TALLAHASSEE, Fla (WTXL)---Today on Sunrise, we were joined by Family Therapist, Jane Marks and Former Mayor, John Marks to discuss our unsung heroes- the teenagers of Tallahassee. Many local organizations benefit from the time and talents of our youth. This is our Thanksgiving to them.
Below you'll find a list of charities and efforts that several Tallahassee high school's take part in.
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Chiles High School
Conducts one of the biggest Relay for Life rallies in the City
They just completed a Blood Bank for Halloween where they donated multiple units of blood.
At the beginning of the year, staff volunteers and 60 students hosted food drives for Second Harvest, Prepared gift bags for the children at TMH and delivered them to the children’s wing. Students also visited with the patients while delivering the gift bags. The "Do Something Club" members are cooking and serving lunch at the Big Bend Hope Community on December 6th. They do this activity several times a year.
The Do Something Club are sponsoring a “Pie in the Face” booth at the upcoming “Howl at the Moon” event to raise money for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Teachers and administrators have volunteered to let students pie them in the face for a donation.
The Do Something Club will be sponsoring a warm clothes and jeans event from December 8 through January 15 to collect jeans for Teens and warm coats for the homeless.
SGA shops for deserving families.
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Florida High
Florida High participates in food drive donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank, has relationship with NASA that benefits student research. They also share students in Florida and Georgia.
On Veterans Day had a celebration and fundraiser for veteran’s rights on campus. The youngest veteran was 26 and the oldest was 92. The principal is veteran as well.
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FAMU High
FAMU High is conducting a FOOD Drive for Second Harvest with the Goal of 1000 cans
Student Government has been known to collect socks for “Sock it to Me” for Diabetic patients.
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Rickards High
Rickards High has been involved in major recycling efforts for the school. They've also participated in the Homeless Awareness Program, facilitated Canned Food Drive
Students participate in Helping Hands through SGA with “Exceptional Student Educators” where after school they help ESE with academic projects along with arts and crafts. SGA also served food at a Veterans Day luncheon held at the school. The other charities this school participates in include the Breast Cancer walk, Leukemia walk, Big Ben Cares, Christmas Connection, Heifer International
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Godby High School
Godby High Participates in the following charities: The ROYCE Foundation sponsored a toy drive for needy children in the community. The National Honor Society is sponsoring a Thanksgiving Food Drive. The National Honor Society volunteers and participates in the annual Relay for Life. The National Honor Society are peer tutors. The National Honor Society volunteers at the North Florida Fair each year
The football team members volunteer for handling the parking for the FHSAA State Cross Country Meet
The Drama Club has free performances for the children at area elementary schools
The AVID Program mentors Springwood Elementary students about student success and participates in team building activities
SWAT and SADD clubs raise money for Relay for Life
The Academy of Finance sponsors ongoing fundraisers for the United Way
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John Paul II Catholic High School
Holds canned food drives for Catholic Charity
Students participated in a “Dress Down” day that raised money that went to the Children’s Miracle Network at ShandsHospital
On Wednesday during Lent students participate in Rice Bowl. They have just a meager meal of rice and the money raised goes to Catholic Relief Services to help the poor in Tallahassee and third world countries
Sponsor a Pro-Life baby shower and donate baby items to the Open Door and PhiCenter. Students also volunteer their time at these organizations
The entire school participates in Christmas Connection
Students volunteer once a month at the Open Door Women’s Clinic to clean and help where needed.
Group go Christmas Caroling the week before Christmas at Nursing Homes
Elder Elf – adopt a senior from Big Ben and supply Christmas stocking stuffers
The Drum line played for Veterans Day Parade
The String Ensemble also played for Veterans day in the park
The students participated in day of service during Catholic Schools Week. Faculty, staff and students participated in outreach and social service to the community.
Each year students make around 100 Easter Baskets for the immigrant children in Quincy
They collect Toiletries, food and clothing items for the homeless at The Homeless Shelter.
Students Volunteer at Goodwood to serve ice cream and participate in the Easter Egg Hunt
Summer volunteers do a one week mission trip to Greensburg, PA to aid in summer activities for special needs children.
Some assisted with children at a picnic at MaclayGardens for the families of medical professionals.
Some students are candy stripers at TMH
Volunteers work at the animal shelter
Students volunteer for a week to help out with the VacationBibleSchool
Students are involved with raising money nd participating in relay for life
JP II participated in volunteering at the summer at Brush and Palette
Lastly, Volunteer working with special needs children – tweens too old for summer camp donate their time as counselors in training
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Maclay
Celebrate a major walk-a-thon for the Joanna Francis Foundation
They go to Walmart on a regular basis to secure food and clothing deserving families.
Maclay students make cakes for children at UF who have extensive medical conditions. These cakes are made to celebrate each individual.
Maclay’s biggest event so far has been raising $5,000 for the TallahasseeMemorialHospitalCancerCenter by participating in Tallahassee Goes Pink in October. Students wore pink and competed in homeroom competitions for donations. Volleyball and soccer teams also donated the gate admission to the cause which we are very proud to participate in with the City of Tallahassee.
The Maclay Upper School Service Club held a “Canstruction” on Thursday, November 20th. Clubs participated in building structures made out of cans which are then donated to the 2nd Harvest Food Bank. Last year’s Canstruction brought in over 1200 pounds of food and helped over 100 families.
The Maclay kindergarten classes will again adopt children from BoysTown and collect gifts for their wish lists. This is the third year the kindergarten class has participated in the program.
The Maclay Lower School Student Council is holding a holiday toy drive to bring in 1000 gifts for 500 children from the Children’s Home Society. The drive runs through December 12.
Anchor Club participated in the Forget Me Not Walk for Alzheimer’s research
In addition, the Upper School Anchor Club (11th and 12th grade girls) have adopted children from the program for the holidays.
The UpperSchool held several fundraisers during homecoming to benefit the NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Key Club is participating in the Monticello News Christmas Toy Drive along with the Lower School Student Council who will hold a toy drive for the Salvation Army.
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Community Christian
The students adopted ChelseaHome (a refuge for homeless women) for a service project. Twice a year, each grade goes to serve at the house executing a range of projects for the individuals there.
Students also take part in an “Immersion Week” where students are immersed in the real world outside of the school walls to serve the community. During this week the students serve many organizations including A Women’s Pregnancy Center, PHI Center, Faith Radio, Second Harvest, Making Miracles Group Home and many more.
In January, many high school students take a leadership
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Gretchen Evererhart
Jane Floyd Bullen - Principal
Has a history of helping in the community.
The School staff have committed to helping United Way and ended up with 100% of staff giving to the organization this year.
The School voted to contribute to "Tree House" as it has also served Gretchen Everhart students.
Some of their older students deliver meals weekly with the "Meals on Wheels" program. This is especially great because it allows the students to communicate with others and for the recipients to know others care!
Another group goes to "Elder Care Services" weekly as well to provide music and social time with those in the service program.
Gretchen Everhart also participates in food drives most currently the "Turkey Trot" and clothing drives for Goodwill. This is also a great mutual service relationship with Goodwill as that organization offers clothing vouchers for students in need.
Actively involved in recycling throughout the school and students are responsible for collecting recyclable materials.
Gretchen Everhart also has an ongoing relationship with the local Elks Lodge. The Elks Lodge participated in school events and the school directly benefits from the results of the Elks fundraising.
Some of those benefited from fundraising include sending students and their families to a long weekend camp! The Elks Lodge has done this for the school for the past decade - 10 years! As a result, the students and the families have developed unique friendships with the members of the Elks.
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SAIL
Human Relations Club spearheaded a very successful blanket and personal products drive for the Big Bend Homeless Coalition’s Hope Community. The efforts helped them donate more than $1,800 worth of food goods to the facility.
Students also participated in the Breast Cancer Walk and donated $100
The OctoPiRates Robotics Club is very involved in Tallahassee scientific community and will be running a robotic competition for four high schools and two middle schools on December 6th. They also partnered with FSU to raise money for each school.
The Robotics Club has also helped make sandwiches for the homeless and participate in a roadside trash pick-up with the Kiwanis Club.
SAIL art class started what they hope will be a long relationship with Miracle Hill Nursing and RehabilitationCenter.
North Florida Christian
SGA participated in Operation Christmas
They are doing a children’s drive packing shoe boxes with much needed goods to send to those in need.
The NFC KEY Club is adopting 2 families to send a great big Thanksgiving basket and Turkey with all of the trimmings!
SGA and the NFC Fellowship of Christian Athletes are doing a canned food drive culminating on the evening of December 11th where the students will put on a performance of “A Christmas Carol”.
The proceeds from the canned food drive will go to Christ Town Ministries that Brother Bob and Laura Wells both direct.
Students help organize “Harvest Festival” and many students Volunteer at the Women’s PregnancyCenter.
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Leon High School
Sponsors an Annual Cancer Fundraiser raising thousands of dollars for TMH
Organized and hosted a “Homelessness: Let’s Bag it!” campaign to raise awareness about homelessness in our community and collected items for donation to The Shelter.
JROTC hosts a Toys $ Tots drive each year between November and December
Held 2 blood drives that totaled over 85 units donated this Fall
Sponsoring an old/used blanket and towel drive for the Leon County Animal Shelter
Sponsored multiple precincts for “Kids Voting” during the mid-term elections
Cyber Seniors volunteer at the SeniorCenter to tutor older adults on the applications and use of their personal electronic devices.
The SGA sponsors the food and desserts at the Boys Town Christmas Tree lighting each year.
The Spanish Honor Society purchased llamas for the poverty stricken people in South America
FCA hosted the fall “Fields of Faith” event with GodbyHigh School
Service clubs have been holding monthly clean ups in the vicinity of Leon High School to give back and help keep the areas around the school clean from trash
The Elite Book Club members volunteer to gather during lunch to read high interest novels with peers.
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Florida High
Food drive donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank
On Veterans Day had a celebration and fundraiser for veteran’s rights on campus. The youngest veteran was 26 and the oldest was 92. The principal is veteran as well.
We have one the best space technology programs in the state of Florida. Our very own Mr. Pete Carafano is coordinator of the statewide student space and technology program hosted by NASA at KennedySpaceCenter in Titusville, Florida. We will be participating in the event this February and hope to come out on top. We are sponsoring a team from Ireland to come to the event this year. They heard about the competition and wanted to bring their high school students to NASA this year. Mr. Carafano and several parents constructed a state of the arts demo of the space shuttle. Representatives from NASA and Embry-RiddleAeronauticalUniversity have been on our campus to see and experience the ride. We have been asked to display it at the state competition in February.
Another outstanding program under Mr. Carafano’ s leadership is the Emergency Responders Training for our students. We have a 100% pass rate on the state exam. Our students have provided services at various events in the Tallahassee area including during several FloridaStateUniversity games along with the Red Cross.
Both of these programs are student led. Mr. Carafano has done a great job training students to be leaders in their field.
Our Culinary Arts program is also one of the best in the state. Our pass rate is usually around 99% on the state certification exam. Our student usually prepare food for school functions. Mrs. Bender provides the supervision but the students are the ones who manages the shop during each event.
