Granby Memorial Students Drive for Ghana Citizens Set for Tomorrow

Inspired by the program Invisible Children, 20 students have organized a collection drive for clothing, shoes and bicycles to benefit the people of Ghana.

The drive, which will take place at the high school’s main entrance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 31, is the brainchild of seniors Drew Ash and Ashley Piccirillo, who were encouraged during their advisory classes to organize something for the benefit of others.

“We came up with the idea because we think it is so sad that people in other countries are not as fortunate as us,” Piccirillo wrote in a recent e-mail. “We hope this humbles people who donate as they realize it is going to those who really need it. … The advisories’ goal to be compassionate contributors really inspired us as well.

“Seeing all that the children and people of Ghana go through really sparked our attention and touched our hearts, and we really want to make a difference to help them as much we can.“

In addition to clothing, bikes or shoes, the students are also accepting cash donations to offset the cost of shipping the items to Ghana.

Piccirillo said that one of the 20 students in her advisory knows a man, Thomas, who is from Ghana and travels to America on occasion.

“He is willing to take all of the stuff we collect back with him to Ghana when he visits in the spring,” Piccirillo wrote. “We really want people not just in the school, but all throughout Granby, to be aware of our cause so they can help us too. We really want to make Thomas pleasantly surprised with the amount of stuff we give him to take back to his village!”