Collection bins full of donations in the NC clocktower main entrance (Ludden/LION).

From Nov. 27 to Dec. 8, the National Honor Society (NHS) organized a holiday food drive in hopes of gathering record amounts of non-perishables for people in need, NHS sponsor Drew Magis said. 

“We are trying to make the food drive, not only a NHS [activity], but an LT [activity],” Magis said in an interview before the drive started. “Everyone can get involved, and NHS members can reach out to their friends, their peers, their teachers.This could be [great for] community building as we help as many people as we can.” 

NHS worked alongside a planning committee to advertise, coordinate, and set up the drive, Magis said. The committee coordinated with many winter sports teams and theater performances to have boxes set up before their events, as well as in the libraries of both campuses. Besides figuring out the logistics of setting and picking up boxes, anotheezr main component for the drive’s success was the advertising around it.

“We want to make sure we are reaching out with our communication,” Magis said. “We really want to advertise well through flyers, posters, emails, and getting classes involved, so that everyone is pushed to donate as much as they can.” 

The items collected were distributed to various food pantry locations throughout the 11 neighborhoods surrounding the school, he said. 

“We are going to be working with [a variety of] food pantries across the area to make sure that we are serving all of our communities by donating to as many places as we can,” Magis said.

Alongside the food drive, NHS will also be hosting a blanket drive over the holiday season. The NHS executive board is taking the lead on planning this event, and any NHS or community members available are encouraged to participate in the blanket making. 

“It is really important for NHS to do group volunteer work together,” board member Mark DeMonte ‘24 said. “Our first big event like that is going to be the blanket drive.” 

Not only is the blanket drive going to aid the community, but it will also bring the club members together as a whole to strive for a certain goal, he said. 

“We have the resources of so many people,” DeMonte said. “I think we could do a lot of good, having something where everyone is making a difference together.There is power in numbers.” 

Through services like donating food, and making blankets, one of the main pillars of the club (service) is being demonstrated, he said. 

“If we look at one of the pillars of NHS, it is service, but I think service should be one of the pillars for every LT student, every LT staff member.” Magis said. “It’s sacrificing our time, energy, andmoney, and giving to those who are in need.” 

Service is one of the best ways to engage with one’s community, board member Leo Perez ‘23 said. Although the holiday months are excellent times to demonstrate this, it should also be demonstrated year round. 

“It is important to get the idea of giving back going, not just for the holidays but for the whole year,” Perez said. “That is what we want to establish in NHS as leaders.”