NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY VOLUNTEER AT PORTLAND PAY IT FORWARD

BY: ADRIEL GARCIA

National Honor Society, led by Highland Academy teacher Ken Hallam, has a yearly requirement of service hours for all students accepted into the program. Lois and Don Brown, grandparents of Ben and Sam Fernandes, approached our academy this past summer about an opportunity close to campus for our students to give back to the people of Portland, TN. Portland Pay It Forward (PPIF), was founded by Ashley Anderson in 2018. The mission started out as a Facebook group page using this platform to pass out food to those in need. In the beginning, bread was donated, and the charity bought milk and eggs. PPIF served approximately 5 families. However, during the pandemic, there was a greater need, and the program has grown to serving approximately 220 families. Ashley took the house that she was living in and converted it into the Charity’s home with shelves of food, including multiple refrigerators and freezers. The charity does weekly pick-ups from grocery stores and Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition to food giveaways every two weeks, the charity passes out fresh fruit, veggies, bread, and so much more four days a week through their Facebook page. “It's such a blessing and you provide so much more than food. They are family, and each day you wake up ready to serve the community. It's beautiful and so very special,” says Founder of PPIF, Ashley Anderson.

Stephanie Rufo, Highland Academy’s communication and marketing director, coordinates students to volunteer twice per month helping fill up food boxes, load the food boxes into cars, and give warm smiles to those in line. Families wait in line for hours ready to pick up food to help them through the week. Stephanie states that “The volunteers and people picking up food are so grateful to our Highland students, who have smiles on their faces, don’t complain, and jump in wherever needed. As they say, many hands make light