The spirit of giving is all around Brentwood this year! With events this fall and winter such as the canned food drive, winter clothes drive, hot cocoa sale, and a new addition, Penny Wars, many students, staff, and families have done so much to help in the ways they can.
The canned food drive is nothing new to Brentwood. It is done every year to provide food for those in need. This year, over 1,200 food and personal items were collected from our generous staff, students, and families. Some Student Council and NJHS members also proved to be of great help. They worked on counting and preparing the donation bags to be distributed and delivered to those in need.
Just last week, the Mental Awareness Club also sold hot chocolate for a couple of days before school and during advisory. The Mental Health Awareness Club started just last year and it was then that they began the tradition of selling hot chocolate during the final weeks before the first semester ends.
Junior Rohan Dixit stated, “Even though we sold for less days, we were still able to raise around $180.” The profits of the sale are to be donated to Kids Under Twenty-One (KUDO). Though the sale ended last week, The Mental Health Awareness Club is currently sponsoring another drive that is underway, the Winter Clothing Drive. The clothing drive is also supported by our NHS. This clothing drive is to benefit the Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, which is in need of new clothes, such as long-sleeved shirts, dresses, pants, and leggings. The clothes can be of any size for children 0-21. Clothing donations can be dropped off at the Main entrance and the Moritz entrance.
Lastly, there’s been a new addition to Brentwood’s ways of giving this year: The Penny Wars. In November, with the organizational help of Mr. Hamdan and STUCO, each advisory was given a glass jar to collect money. Advisories gained points by putting pennies and paper money in their own jars and they could make other advisories lose points by putting “silver” coins (quarters, dimes and nickels) in other advisories’ jars. On Dec. 18th, the advisory for each grade level with the most money was crowned the winner. According to Mr. Hamdan, Penny Wars was a great success. “I think we had a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. Hamdan also added that he thinks the competition aspect of it increased people’s willingness to contribute.
According to Dr. Tamakloe, in total, the school raised $1,063.40, including $507 in cash and $556.40 in coins. She said, “West Community Credit Union had so much fun emptying advisory bags into their change machine! Those bags of change were HEAVY!”
As for the winners? For the freshman, Ms. Carmody’s advisory won; Frau Wall’s advisory won the sophomore class; Ms. Biever’s advisory won for the junior class; and for the seniors, Mr. Rempel’s advisory won.
Of course the real winners of the competition were everyone who helped contribute to the fundraising. “This event speaks volumes about the kindness and unity of the Brentwood High School community,” said Dr. Tamakloe. “The funds raised will go directly back to support the Brentwood community and play a vital role in our district’s Holiday Giving efforts. Our collective contributions will make a meaningful difference for many families this season.”
