Despite the stress of upcoming finals, piles of homework and keeping up with classes, Los Altos High School’s student body has found special ways to give back to the community this holiday season.
Los Altos High’s Associated Student Body’s Second Harvest Food Bank fundraiser, Student Community Leadership’s Toy Drive and the Latino Student Union’s Warm Clothing Drive has been one of the few ways they have supported the community.
The Second Harvest Food Bank fundraiser is an annual fundraiser hosted by ASB. According to ASB Vice President Vera Lin, the fundraiser usually has a goal of $15,000, along with incentives for students to donate such as food prizes for the class that donates the most.
This year’s SHFB fundraiser was ASB’s most successful so far, Lin said, smashing the original goal of $15,000 and amassing around $28,000 in donations.
“[The donations] were initially a shock,” Lin said. “But then it made sense, with what was happening in the U.S., with food banks not being open. … There are a lot of underprivileged families who just need food. People were just really aware of that situation, which led to [them] wanting to donate so much money to us.”
SCL’s Toy Drive began in early December with the intention of raising awareness for less fortunate families, according to LAHS senior Ella Omura, a member of SCL’s outreach committee. The toy drive allows students to donate used toys to support SCL’s mission.
“We want to be someone who [can] take care of the less fortunate and provide everybody with holiday happiness,” Omura said.
SCL also works in collaboration with the local fire department. The fire department has its own outreach processes and donation box to reach as many people as possible. Thus far, according to Omura, the drive has gotten a few toys and intends to keep running until the end of finals week.
“[Donating] is a really great way to just get involved this holiday season and give some holiday cheer to other people,” Omura said.
LSU’s Warm Clothing Drive was hosted with the intent of collecting lightly used coats to donate to those in need. According to LSU Co-President Marvin Lopez Garcia, the drive has collected over a bin full of coats so far.
The Latino Outreach Team provided a drop-off method for those who wanted to donate coats in quick, drive up donations to further promote donations. According to Garcia, the drive is a success as long as it helps someone.
“I would consider two coats [a success], because at the end of the day, as long as they help someone, I feel like it’s success,” Garcia said.
