With increasingly cold weather and high costs of nearly everything in stores this holiday season, many are struggling to save money, access resources, and celebrate with family. Here at Panther Creek, we can see some charitable spirit from our own students through the multiple gift drives happening in December and January, as well as year-round activities from clubs. When we asked what makes a strong community to members of service-focused clubs, they provided insight such as ”putting the needs of others above your own”, “ being willing to step up in times of need”, and “coming together for a cause”.

One such member is Samantha Tjandra, president of the Humanitarian Aid Club. She was drawn to the club because she enjoys helping others and making change around the world. Despite the challenges of promoting activities and events, she emphasized how being a PCHS student actually helps her to support communities by having a large audience and more opportunities to promote, such as through the announcements. Just one of the ways that the club has helped people in need was through a Candy Drive for Halloween for which they collected candy to send to troops overseas.

So, how do we see this during the holiday time?
The Holiday Gift Drive, in collaboration with the YMCA Holiday Drive, will donate reasonably sized toys in good condition for children and families. According to the YMCA website, gifts will be sold at reduced prices at YMCA locations to give parents an opportunity to purchase affordable gifts for their children. Their goal is to aid over 300 families!

Together with DORCAS Ministries, the FBLA’s Canned Food and Clothing Drive has collected food, clothing, and household items like paper towels to be donated to people in need. Nicholas Lenfestey worked on this gift drive as a member of FBLA. When asked what community means to him, he defined it as people coming together to help each other out and using their different strengths and weaknesses to be stronger together. This is especially made possible through the community of students at Panther Creek. Akshaya Rotte, another member of FBLA, says being a PC student helps her to support communities because being around a variety of people gives her the opportunity to see problems firsthand and try to change them. It allows her to pinpoint the needs of others and get people involved to help them through community service.

Whether it’s Totes for Hope for veterans, the AFA Holiday Drive for preventing animal euthanization, or the Dreamcatchers Sock Donation Drive for hospice patients, let’s all work hard to support students trying to make a change in their local communities even beyond this time of year.