Helping Hands for Hunger Working Toward a Happy Thanksgiving for All

The Peer Leadership program at , in conjunction with other community-geared clubs and organizations in the school district, are directing their efforts toward assisting the less fortunate during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

The club is organizing its fourth annual food drive for the turkey season, to collect food which will be used to supply 200 needy families in Manchester – known as the three 3H’s: “Helping Hands for Hunger.” Helping Hands for Hunger will assemble 200 identical food baskets containing the necessary items for a Thanksgiving dinner, which so many in the Manchester community would be without this November.

For fresh items, contained in these baskets will be one turkey, one fresh pineapple, three medium-large onions, one five-pound bag of potatoes, two one-pound bags of carrots, six to eight bananas, a dozen eggs, one pound of butter, five pounds of mixed fresh fruit and one pie.

As far as canned goods, the baskets will contain two 14.5-ounce cans of ShopRite-brand green beans, two 10.5-ounce cans of Campbell’s-brand turkey gravy, two 15-ounce cans of Del Monte-brand mixed vegetables, two 15-ounce cans of Pathmark-brand America’s Choice whole kernel sweet corn, one 16-ounce can of Ocean Spray-brand jellied cranberry sauce, and one 16-ounce can of Ocean Spray-brand whole berry cranberry sauce.

Rounding out the baskets for dry goods, they will contain two one-pound boxes of pasta or spaghetti, one 14-ounce bag of Kraft-brand stuffing and one package of dinner rolls.

The Peer Leadership group’s faculty advisor, Sarah Thiffault, spoke both highly of her students and to how this activity would celebrate the true spirit of Thanksgiving and provide assistance to the less fortunate in the local area.

“These are extraordinary young people who will provide Thanksgiving to people in our community,” Thiffault said. “This is our future, and it’s looking very bright with these students.”

Thiffault’s students and members of the Peer Leadership group were only too happy to donate their time to this worthy cause.

“We’re able to help other families and give back,” said senior Amanda Start.

Senior Briana Swift added, “It’s important and insightful to help families in need in the local area. We are helping hands trying to stop hunger.”

Danielle Childers, also a senior student, said, “I feel privileged to be a part of a big community event like this. We appreciate (the community’s) anticipated generosity.”

Nicki Seubert, a senior, commented, “It’s a great life experience and shows us how to be charitable, which will help us in the future.”

Senior Les Ward called working on this project “an exhilarating experience”.

“It feels good to help out,” said Mike Caprio, a junior student at the school.  

Senior Joe Johnson said that “it’s really fulfilling to know that people are helped by your work.”

According to the group’s website, they are still seeking financial donations (which are tax-deductible), as well as donations of any of the food items to be used for the Helping Hands for Hunger baskets.

Additionally, the Peer Leadership group students will be packing the completed baskets next Monday at the high school’s auxiliary gym from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., with older community members – making it an inter-generational charitable event.