By Kacie Leach and Ryann Heinlen
The holiday season is often seen as the time of year to give back, and Coronado is doing just that and more.
In the first week of December, a student’s house burned down. Her family and she lost everything, so social studies teacher Mrs. McGuan decided to have her students bring in donations to give to the family.
“For me, giving back at this time of year is essential. Especially if it comes to children. People losing their homes, children who may not get anything for Christmas; those are the things that motivate me and my students. So far, we’ve been very successful,” McGuan said.
With trash bags filled with clothes and household items, students around the school are pitching in and helping out a peer.
“I feel like we always get so much stuff we don’t need, and I’d rather give back the things I don’t need to people who don’t have it,” Sienna Batara, junior, said.
Branching out a little farther to those in need, Student Council is hosting another year of Cougars Care. Cougars Care is where a teacher agrees to take on a wish list from a Robert Taylor Elementary student who may not get a Christmas due to family funds. Together, the teacher and his or her students bring in money and/or gifts for the less fortunate children in order to brighten their holiday season and help out local families.
Some teachers even take on more than one child to help out during the pricey holiday season. Cougars Care ends on Dec. 14, and Student Council will pick up the bagged presents on Dec. 14 and 15 during fifth period.
“I do Cougars Care because I think it’s awesome. Any chance we as humans can help other humans, that’s what makes us human,” Mr. Anderson, psychology teacher, said.
Students also have the opportunity to give back to those who have not been as fortunate as others by creating stockings from homeless youth. Coronado is one of 65 schools participating in this event. Title I Hope, the organization sponsoring the drive, plans for each stocking to be filled with toys, puzzles, crayons, candy, books, and hygiene products with a total price ranging anywhere from $15 to $20.
The first year Interact Club held the stocking stuffer fundraiser they stuffed approximately 40 stockings, the second year they filled approximately 70, and this year they are expecting to fill approximately 125 stockings.
National Honor Society, Future Medical Professionals, and Red Cross Club are collecting one and a half yard pieces of fleece until Dec. 10 which students will turn into warm blankets for winter. Those who donate pieces of fleece or help in creating the blankets receive volunteer hours. The blankets created will go to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation and Project Linus, a company which provides children with warm blankets to get them through illness and trauma.
“Something as simple as a blanket can make a huge impact,” Laura Quintero, senior, said.
Future Medical Professionals is also hosting a toy drive which benefits the St. Jude’s Ranch for children. New, unwrapped toys or gift cards are needed and are to be delivered to Mrs. Jackson in room 901, now until Dec. 18.
During the winter season, people are not the only ones in need. The Animal Foundation is hosting an empty paws drive for our four-legged friends during the holidays. The drive began on Dec. 3 and ends Dec. 11.
Boxes can be found in science classrooms with a list of items needed. Some suggested items include towels, sheets, collars, leashes, canned cat food, toys, and rubber gloves.
“Without the gift of service, there would be no gifts,” Mrs. Jackson, science teacher, said.
