Reading Assignment Moves OFHS Students to Fundraise

Reading about the Holocaust and genocide was an eye opening experience for the Sophomore Language Arts classes taught by Oak Forest High School teacher Peggy Hooper. Students were reading articles about the treatment of refugees. Some articles compared the treatment of refugees today to the atmosphere found after World War II ended. “Why didn’t anyone help?” students asked Mrs. Hooper. A class discussion ensued about why no one would take action in the face of this suffering.

Inspired, students decided that they were going be a positive change in the world and raise money for the Chicago based group called RefugeeOne. RefugeeOne helps resettle refugees and even helped displaced Americans after Hurricane Katrina.

The classes organized a bake sale to help raise money for RefugeeOne during lunch hours. They decided that they would try to give other students an opportunity to help out as well. Other English classes collected spare change, and all students bought baked goods in the café. Teachers who helped out in the fundraiser were Kevin Farrell, Jen Schanz, Caitlin McMahon, and Caitlin Slattery.

The Sophomore Language Arts classes, moved to action by an English reading assignment, raised a total of $540.76 for RefugeeOne!

Kristina Bauers, Travis Murphy, Cole Silha, Camille Glenn, Ricardo Santiago, Damien Lauder, Valerie Ramirez, and Joshua Lyons are part of the Sophomore Language Arts group that raised money for RefugeeOne.