CV kids give generously to food drive
The annual food drive at Central Valley High School was a rousing success, collecting more than 16,000 food items and $10,000 in cash for the Valley Food Bank.
“They can get six pounds of food for every dollar,” said student activities coordinator Leanne Donley. “Today we raised almost $200 at lunch just from passing the bucket around.”
Donley said she’s not surprised at the students’ generosity. “They are just awesome kids,” she said. “They just know it’s the right thing to do.”
The food collection was down slightly this year, which is probably a combination of the bad economy and students not being allowed to collect donations at as many grocery stores as they usually do. “Some of our kids who usually donate are now going to the food bank,” Donley said.
Students did stand outside URM daily for nearly three weeks and also spent a lot of time outside Yoke’s. “It’s hard for the whole community right now.”
Donley said CV’s annual food drive is the largest single contributor to the food bank. “This food will carry them through the middle of spring,” she said.
Critters get fed
Students at East Valley High School just wrapped up a dog and cat food drive to benefit the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service shelter.
Students in Lori Jacobsen’s world history and American government classes collected nearly 2,000 pounds of cat good, dog food and cat litter.
Students also collected pennies to be sent to charities and raised almost $600. The goal had been to raise $125. “They just started bringing it in,” Jacobsen said.
The students voted to send half the money to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and half to World Vision to buy chickens, goats and seeds for poor villages.
Spreading Christmas cheer
The Spokane Valley Adventist School Bell Choir has been traveling around the area giving performances of Christmas music for the last two weeks. Their travels have taken them to the Spokane Veterans Home, Shriners Hospital, Broadway Estates, Harvard Park Retirement Home, Orchard Crest Retirement Center and more.
Singers win honors
Eleven choral students from University High School have been named to statewide and regional choirs. The students competed against other Northwest singers and were selected by the National Educators Association and the Washington Music Educators Association.
Students named to the MENC All-Northwest Honor Choir are: Breanna Duffy, Taylor Haven, Ross Mumford, Joey Pitner, Daniel Smith, Jordan Taylor and Taila Wachter.
Students named to the WMEA All-State Honor Choir are: Robert Aneiro, Riley Connolly, Kylen Peden and Nathan VanVlaenderern.