On Monday the Roots & Shoots Club at Greenwich High School watched the results of their Penny Wars and Thanksgiving Food Drive culminate in the assembly of boxes full of Thanksgiving turkeys and fixings for about 150 local families.
With the help of Karen Foster, the GHS director of student activities, Roots & Shoots advisor Kathleen Mendez, who teaches AP Psychology, gave classes a “feel good, do good” lesson that freed them to assemble the Thanksgiving meals.
Sam Bickham, Andreas Milani and Jack Bound head to the south loading dock with boxes of fresh baked goods and fixings for Thanksgiving for 150 local families. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
All the fixings were organized inside boxes wrapped in colored paper by the Roots & Shoots Club. The boxes were also adorned with holiday artwork courtesy of the GHS Art Club, advised by Julie Nixon.
In addition to store bought items, the GHS Cardinal Cooks, headed by Deb Chauvin and Linda Turbert, baked a fresh loaf of bread for each family.
Beyond the efforts of the club and the entire GHS community, Trinity Church, which meets in the student center on Sundays, also collected Thanksgiving food items to supplement the Roots & Shoots drive.
After school on Monday, there was a well coordinated meal delivery that involved about 25 of volunteer drivers as part of Social Services Holiday Aide program.
The club, which is led by René Jameson, Ralph Williams Alexia Towle and Nadine Shunnar, were joined by Roots & Shoots alumna, Isabella DelPriore who graduated GHS three years earlier.
Sara Stober, Isabella DelPriore and Nadine Shunnar marshaled boxes of Thanksgiving meal fixings for 150 local families. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
“The money raised from Penny Wars, which is usually around $1,500, helps supplement the cost of the fresh turkeys and other fresh foods,” said Ms. Mendez, adding, “the Bella House crew organized a last-minute donation of over $200 pennies.”
Ms. Mendez said that later in the week the house winners of the food donation and Penny Wars competitions will be announced.
Winning houses will choose a lucky student to pie Dr. Winters after Thanksgiving.
Carolina Lew (11th) and Hannah Doyle (12) carry boxes to the south loading dock at GHS for the Roots & Shoots Thanksgiving meal project. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
Students of Kathleen Mendez filled boxes of Thanksgiving meal fixings for 150 local families. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
Students of Kathleen Mendez prepared to carry full boxes of Thanksgiving meal fixings from the student center to the south loading dock. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
On the loading dock, Sam Bickham (12), Kate Ragone (12) and Isabella DelPriore (class of 2015) organized the fresh vegetables and fruits donated by Deb Ponzek at Aux Delices.
Matthew Rothman outside the south loading dock at GHS. Students added baby food to the boxes marked with a “b” for baby. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
Organizing boxes in the south lot for the Roots & Shoots meal delivery to 150 local families. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
Organizing boxes in the south lot for the Roots & Shoots meal delivery to 150 local families. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sara Stober marked boxes with a “b” to indicate the receiving family has a baby and receives baby food in addition to the Thanksgiving meal fixings. Nov 20, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
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