Southern Local celebrates giving through holiday donation drive

Southern Local Junior/Senior High School celebrated the season of generosity through its “12 Days of Giving” program, collecting items to benefit local families and community agencies.

Principal Jess Krulik said staff members and students donated items during the weeks leading up to winter break, with a different focus each week. Krulik and educator Mikie Peters coordinated the effort with National Honor Society adviser Bob Shansky.

Staff members donated towels and blankets, diapers, dog and cat treats, hygiene items and sponges. Students contributed Christmas cards, toys and canned goods to support local families, animal shelters and nursing homes. The National Honor Society oversaw morning collections in homeroom classrooms, and Peters coordinated drop-offs with community agencies.

Recipients included the Columbiana County Dog Pound, Columbiana County Humane Society, Angels for Animals and the Southern Community Center of Salineville Food Pantry.

“We’ve had the students and staff bring items to donate to different places in the community,” Krulik said. “We collected 1,000 towels and blankets Dec. 4 and 5, and students brought in holiday cards that were sent to local retirement homes and assisted living facilities.”

“We were able to collect enough cards to take to six different nursing homes, two of which we visited with six members of student council,” Peters said.

Student council members who participated were Kalayah Crute, Katie Kellogg, Madilyn Tsesmilles, Natalia Lopez, Delaney Beadnell and Chloe Phillips.

The school collected dog and cat treats and toys Dec. 8-12 and concluded the campaign Dec. 15-19 with hygiene products and food items, including canned corn, green beans, peas, stuffing and noodles.

“We sent multiple boxes filled with treats, food, blankets and dog toys to three local animal shelters, and the community center received multiple boxes of hygiene items, canned goods, Christmas dinner items, blankets and toys,” Peters said.

In addition to donation collections, staff members and students participated in holiday activities throughout the program.

“Each day for staff, we utilized Nutrition Inc. for treats and held dress-up days. We also had dress-up days for students to get into the holiday spirit,” Krulik said.

Staff members were treated to doughnuts, a baked potato bar and hot cocoa, and were allowed to wear comfortable clothing, holiday sweaters, hats and pajamas. Coupon and gift card raffles were held, and the effort concluded with a staff luncheon on the final day of school before break.

School officials said they hope to continue the “12 Days of Giving” program each year.

Public donations were accepted as students delivered items to homeroom classrooms. Officials said every contribution helped brighten the season for families in the community. Anyone with information about a local family in need with a student attending Southern Local, Utica Shale Academy or Indian Valley Academy may contact the Salineville Food Pantry at 330-853-7777.