School today is so much more than the three R’s. Life lessons are a big part of the curriculum at Galveston school district.
For example, the Galveston Ministerial Alliance — through the support and initiatives of the Rev. Susan Kennard, rector at Trinity Episcopal, and Rabbi Marshal Klaven, from Temple B’nai Israel — has agreed to partner with the Ball High School Student Council to help collect nonperishable food items in conjunction with the 35th annual ABC13/BHS “Share Your Holidays” Food Drive.
Eleven local congregations are participating in this first-ever partnership, and the participating congregations will collect food during the months of September and October. This major drive follows the very successful initiative just completed by the Randalls in Galveston. Leaders of the Ball High School Student Council include Yulissa Chavez, president; Ashley Squiers, store manager; Larrian Menifee, co-president; and Oliia Mallard, chairwoman.
Congregations participating in this local, grass-roots effort to collect nonperishable food for those in need in Galveston/Galveston County include Temple B’nai Israel, First Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Episcopal Church, Moody Methodist Church, New Life Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Holy Family Catholic Parishes (Galveston and Bolivar), Church of the Living God and Tiki Island Chapel.
Members of the Ball High School Student Council made presentations to each of these congregations during their regular services back in August to share with those in attendance why this drive is so important and why everyone’s help and participation is needed and appreciated.
All food items and/or cash donations collected from each of the participating congregations during September and October will be presented by members of the Galveston Ministerial Alliance Board members to student council representatives during a live ABC13 broadcast at Ball High School on Dec. 4 — the inal day of this year’s campaign.
“We’re excited to partner with the Galveston Ministerial Alliance for this important community event and so pleased to be working with them to build awareness of the great need for food in Galveston and Galveston County,” Student Council Coordinator Lisa Schweitzer said. “Presently, 76 percent of GISD students receive free and/ or reduced-fee lunches and 40 percent of families in Galveston County are classiied as low income.
“We want each of the Galveston Ministerial Alliance members to know that all contributions — nonperishable food items and/or cash contributions — made through the ABC 13/BHS ‘Share Your Holidays’ Food Drive initiative stays in Galveston and Galveston County.”
In addition to Randalls and the Galveston Ministerial Alliance, other community sponsors include Classic Auto Group, Target-Galveston, Moody Gardens and the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce.
For more information about this year’s event and how to participate, contact Schweitzer at 409-766- 5741, 409-789-4717, or lisa_schweitzer@gisd. org.
Helping others a valuable lesson for all to learn and another great reason those of us lucky enough to live by the sea are lucky enough!