Middle School Students Give Back for the Holiday

Piles of boxes fill the office of Steven Boss, Assistant Principal at . In the spirit of giving this holiday season, it seems Boss's office has also been sacrificed to the cause. 

After stocking the school's food pantry, sending Thanksgiving baskets to the families of 10 middle school students and saving a little for Christmas baskets, the enormous stash of donated food remains, packed up for transfer to Haven of Grace women's shelter.

"I wanted to do a food drive and tie it in to one of the local organizations," said Boss. "There were always food drives at the old middle school, but when we moved into the new building, it kind of fell by the wayside."

To encourage participation, Boss offered incentives. If the students collected 1,200 cans, the assistant principal would give them a "dress-down day" a rare opportunity to abandon the school uniform policy and wear casual clothes. Additionally, Boss offered to throw a pizza party for whichever homeroom collected the most items.

In just two short weeks, the students nearly doubled Boss's expectations, turning in 2,200 food items. In turn, he doubled their rewards.

"Some of the kids were actually going door to door," said Boss. "It was a great community-building thing."

Two homerooms, Mrs. Lindo's HR 122 and Mrs. Thomas's HR 115, collected more than 380 cans. Both homerooms got a pizza party and the entire school was given two dress-down days this week.    

"The incentive of knowing they wouldn't have to wear the uniforms actually brought compliance up," Boss said of the uniforms. "It made for some relaxing days for them and for myself."

In addition to student contributions, the entire middle school staff got involved, from teachers to Sodexho food service employees. The food service company even donated two complete baskets. Donations continued to pour in during the final hours Tuesday afternoon, with teachers and administrators stopping in to Boss's office to add to the pile.

"Everyone was involved and everyone was great," Boss said.

The school found a deserving organization for the food through the kind of good timing that made the program seem even more special for the kids and others involved.  Though the assistant principal started the food drive before finding a recipient, the day after collections began, he received a letter from Haven of Grace, a transitional housing program and shelter for battered women, seeking holiday food donations.

"It was just fate," he said. "I didn't know where they were going."

"We're just trying to give back to the community for all they do for us."