Firelands FFA Update for Feb. 3

by SHELBY BALINT

FFA Parliamentarian

This year the Firelands FFA chapter was involved in a food drive project called Harvest for America. The chapter teamed up with our local Tractor Supply Company to collect non-perishable food for the less fortunate for the holiday season.

The drive was a huge success with the hard work and determination of the students and community members donating food. With a total of 1,792 pounds collected, we're helping 91 families in the Firelands district. Our first week of the canned food drive we collected 250 pounds of food, the second week 592.2, and on our third week 779.1.

Of this total amount, 150 pounds and $150 were donated from the varsity basketball program. This donation was collected at the foundation game at Amherst High School. Firelands certified and classified staff also made monetary donations to purchase hams and turkeys for these families in need. The FCCLA collected canned goods during the Christmas season and the FFA recorded the poundage and delivered the food for them. This added yet another 171 pounds of food to our overall amount.

As an incentive for donating we held a competition with all the first period classes at school and the winning class won a donut party. Mrs. Finnegan's class came in first place and Mrs. Finnegan decided that the top four classes all deserved a party. Mrs. Post's class earned second and Mr. Kearns class earned third and in fourth was Mrs. Hayes's class. Thank you to the Lorain Dunkin Donuts for donating more than half the donuts.

As chair of the community service committee I wanted to thank the people on my committee and everyone who donated and helped with the drive. A special thanks to Andy Carrico and Jake Flood for making the food deliveries and to first period for collecting, counting, and weighing the food.

Thank you all for helping make this a successful community project and helping those less fortunate.

This year the Firelands FFA Chapter also sponsored three families for their Christmas Family Project. All together we had six kids ranging from elementary age to high school. Each year the FFA selects families in the school district that are experiencing financial problems and brings in monetary donations to buy Christmas presents for them.

The chapter members competed against each class period to raise the most money during a two-week period. Sixth period Agriscience III & IV students won with an average of more than $16 per person. All together the chapter members raised $874. More than 20 students went shopping for the children's Christmas list items.

Any extra money was put into gift cards for food and gas for the parents. Students wrapped the presents the next day in class. The FFA is very glad that we could make this Christmas special for these families in need in our school district. Thank you to Ms. Ferio and Mrs. Zimmer for helping us find families in need and for delivering the gifts.