BRIDGEWATER – Students, staff, and members of the Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) community joined together in recent months to help those in need.

The SCVTHS Student Council hosted a clothing fundraiser during the month of October. As a result of their efforts, almost 640 pounds of clothes, shoes, purses, bed and bath linens, and even stuffed animals were collected. Student Council members filled a truck with the donated items, which were then brought to a central location to be weighed, sorted, and distributed to thrift stores and those in need across New Jersey. While the Student Council will receive a small payment for their efforts, Shannon Pisani, Science Instructor and Student Council Advisor, said “the true success of this drive lies in its impact on our local community.” She added “Every donation here will have a direct, positive effect on families and individuals in our area.”

Members of the SCVTHS Student Council and staff pose for a photo before filling a truck with clothes and other items donated by the school community.

Prior to Thanksgiving, the SCVTHS chapter of SkillsUSA conducted their 25th Annual Holiday Food Drive. The local and school community donated a variety of food items, as well as cash, that was used to assemble 21 food baskets that were delivered before the holiday to SCVTHS families in need. The baskets included a variety of Thanksgiving staples, including a turkey, stuffing mix, gravy, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, yams and marshmallows, potatoes, and other traditional trimmings. In addition, students in the Culinary program baked fresh pies for each basket. “The continued generosity of our students, staff, and the community shows how deeply we care for our SCVTHS families” said club advisor Michelle Fresco.

There are also several other charitable donation events in the works. Members of the school’s chapter of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) are collecting winter coats for the Jersey Cares Winter Coat Drive. All donated coats will be given to New Jersey residents in need of something warm to wear this winter. There are also two toy collections coming up. The SCVTHS Cosmetology program and the Connect4Cancer club will be collecting toys for patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Pediatric Cancer Center and Children’s Specialized Hospital in memory of Mackenzie Wright, the niece of Cosmetology instructor Julie Frances. The TOPS program will be filling the wish lists of 37 kids living at Agape House, a division of Volunteers of America, that provides emergency shelter for families.

SCVTHS students and staff hope that their efforts help to make the holiday season a little more joyous for the community.

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