‘Tis the Season to Give Back
COMPILED BY AMANDA NEWELL, ARI GEVOV AND RISHA ROHERA/THEME EDITORS AND MIRA LAING/PHOTOGRAPHER ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMANDA NEWELL
Students at Mira Costa not only excel in academics and athletics, but also in raising the spirits of those who are less fortunate. This holiday season, students are participating in philanthropic acts by donating and supplying gifts for those in need.
A Little Goes a Long Way for the South Bay Various South Bay organizations make an effort to bring holiday cheer to the community by assisting those in need.
The Kiwanis Club What: Christmas tree lot Where: 3LHU $YHQXH DQG 3DFLĂ€F &RDVW Highway in Hermosa Beach
When: Nov. 23 through Dec. 25 Why: to support various organizations involving children
Giving back during the holidays can change the lives of both the ones who see the tree can choose a child to purchase a toy for and deliver it ents for a whole family; the Angel Tree, which involves the homeroom who give and those who receive. Through a variety of clubs and organi- back to the mall for the club to wrap and give to the child. class providing a toy and sleepwear for a child; Toys for Kids, where a zations, many Mira Costa students participate in charitable activities to “The Sandpipers organization gives the volunteers and the community homeroom gives toys to children in the hospital on Christmas day and the help the less fortunate. a lot of options on how to give back,â€? Director of Technology junior canned food drive. Sandpipers is a local philanthropic organization for people who want Ashley Goussak said. “The Sugar Plum Tree guarantees a child a gift. This year, Costa is sponsoring 21 families and 50 Angel Trees, as well to participate in fundraisers and donate the money to different charities. During the holidays when we are receiving so many things, it is nice to as raising money for 60 extra toys for the children. The programs support Sandpiper Juniors, a part of the off-campus organization, is largely com- give something back.â€? the Richstone Center, the South Bay Salvation Army and the Beach Citprised of Costa students, with nearly 22 students in each grade part of it. The Mira Costa baseball team also gives back to the South Bay by sell- ies Mustang Club’s holiday drive, respectively. ASB also hopes to raise “I have learned a lot from them over the past four years,â€? Co-President ing Christmas trees to students at school and others in the community. 11,000 cans this year. of Sandpiper Juniors Costa senior Lauren Fournell said. “Giving back to Trees are sold to raise money for the team’s booster club, but some of the Âł,W LV GHÂżQLWHO\ VWUHVVIXO OHDGLQJ XS WR >WKH HYHQW@ ´ &RPPLVVLRQHU RI [the community] means a lot to me and is something I have valued as a proceeds are also donated to various charitable organizations. Families Community Relations and junior Kayla Medrano said. “I would say that member and president of Sandpiper Juniors.â€? WKDW SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKLV FDXVH FDQ DOVR FKRRVH WR GRQDWH D WUHH WR D VSHFLÂżF [planning the fundraiser] is one of the most rewarding jobs when everyEach holiday season, Sandpipers puts on many events to give back to family in the community that is in need of one. thing is done.â€? the community. Two of the most popular events that students at Costa are “It feels pretty good to know that we are helping families that are less Another organization at Costa that gives back to the community is involved in are the Sandpipers’ Holiday Basket Program and the Sugar fortunate than we are,â€? baseball team member junior Jack Webber said. Lend-A-Hand Club. The members of the club go to Skid Row not only Plum Tree, which takes place at the Manhattan Village Mall. “I think everyone deserves to celebrate the holidays.â€? during the holidays, but also throughout the school year to help the homeWhen participating in the Holiday Basket Program, an indiless by making them food, bringing them clothes and by providvidual adopts a family and purchases toys for the children and ing them with other necessities. “It feels good knowing how much of a difference this makes for these home goods for the parents. The individual then wraps the gifts “Lend-A-Hand’s goal is not only to give the homeless of Skid families and seeing how appreciative they are to receive the gifts.â€? and delivers it to the family that the member adopted. Row food and warm clothes, but also to give them hope,â€? Lend“I am adopting a family this year through Sandpipers,â€? SandA-Hand Vice President and junior Michaela Loudermilk said. Sophomore Haley Webb piper Juniors member sophomore Haley Webb said. “Without “We remind them that although they are going through a rough this program, many of these families and children would not patch in their lives that they are still important and that someone have Christmas presents. It feels good knowing how much of a Throughout the years, a total of 60 trees have been donated. About 20 cares about them.â€? difference this makes for these families and seeing how ap- trees have gone to the Salvation Army, 20 to the Richstone Center for Each year, members of the club go to Skid Row on Christmas Day. preciative they are to receive the gifts.â€? DEXVHG FKLOGUHQ DQG D ODUJH DPRXQW WR VSHFLÂżF IDPLOLHV UHTXHVWHG E\ WKH This year, Costa students are also bringing some men that live in an unThe Sugar Plum Tree event involves ornaments people who donate them. Along with these donations, the players on the derpass a Christmas tree and new sleeping bags. The club is also putting with wishlists of different children on a team also pool together the tips they make delivering the trees in order to RQ D EHQHÂżW VKRZ WKHPHG Âł8JO\ &KULVWPDV 6ZHDWHU ´ ZKHUH WKH\ ZLOO EH Christmas Tree located in the Man- adopt a family for the holiday. grilling burgers and watching performances from Costa bands and the hattan Village Mall. Along with “I like the fact that [the players] are volunteering to give up their tips to ComedySportz team. the wishlist, the ornament families in need,â€? baseball coach Cassidy Olson said. “They are learning “Lend-a-Hand... I really like that name of the club because the people includes the name of a valuable lesson of giving rather than receiving.â€? down here are broken, and you make us feel well,â€? Skid Row resident Edthe child and his The Associated Student Body at Costa not only puts on dances and die said to Lend-A-Hand members. “People come down here all the time or her age. pep rallies, but also carries out a fundraiser called Operation Happiness, and throw food at us, but you kids, you kids are really the ones lending a People which involves the whole school coming together to make the holidays hand. I love each and every one of you.â€? enjoyable for families and children in need. 1DWLRQDO &KDULW\ /HDJXH LV DQ DGGLWLRQDO QRQ SURÂżW RUJDQL]DWLRQ WKDW LQ“The event Operation Happiness is a time where Costa really shines,â€? volves many Costa students. During the holidays, NCL buys gifts for kids ASB Activities Director Lisa Claypoole said. “When we take the at the Children’s Dental Health Clinic in Long Beach and the Richstone gifts [to the children and families], they are so pleased and Family Center in Hawthorne. Members also make meals for 1736 Family happy to see us.â€? &ULVLV &HQWHU DQG YROXQWHHU ZLWK WKH FUHDWLRQ RI D 5RVH %RZO Ă€RDW There are four main aspects to this fund“I am so proud to lead an organization that gives back to the community raiser: Adopt-A-Family, where and provides for the people who need it most,â€? NCL Manhattan-Hermosa the homeroom class pro- Chapter Class of 2015 President Mckenna Doyle said. vides Christmas The beginning journalism classes at Costa, consisting of 70 students, p r e s - participate in the holiday spirit of giving back by visiting Skid Row. Throughout the month of December, the classes collect canned foods and FORWKLQJ WR GRQDWH WR WKH 8QLRQ 5HVFXH 0LVVLRQ LQ 'RZQWRZQ /RV Angeles to help homeless in the Los Angeles County area. Clubs and organizations have impacted many during the holiday season. By giving back to those in need, students have touched the hearts of many in ways they won’t forget.
How do you give back to your community during the holiday season?
“In my neighborhood, we have a bake sale for Heifer International [which] buys animals for third-world countries.� Molly Dvorkin Freshman
“I pack boxes [that are sent to] the troops so that they have a good Christmas.� Reed Wojick Sophomore
“I help with charity work as much as I can and as often as possible around the holidays.� Franchesca Dutra Junior
The Neptunian Woman’s Club What: gift-wrapping station Where: Manhattan Village Mall in Manhattan Beach
When: Dec. 9-24 Why: to help fund scholarships for Costa students going to college
Cheer for Children What: toy wrapping party Where: Center for Spiritual Living in Redondo Beach
When: Dec. 13 Why: to donate toys to sick or needy children living in the South Bay
Beach Cities Toy Drive What: toy drive and gift wrapping Where: Manhattan and Hermosa Beach Fire Stations and the Josyln Center
When: Dec. 15 Why: to fund local charities and organizations in the South Bay
“I am in ASB, so I help with canned food drives. I also donate money to various charities.� Danielle Kay Senior