OXFORD – Beginning this evening and spilling over into Friday night, a group of local high school students have prepared to donate their time and camaraderie for two area food pantries by way of an organized food drive as a community service exercise.
Under the direction of Oxford Academy's Pat Ford, the Oxford chapter is well versed in participating in community service efforts and 2015's group echoes values handed down from previous years. In keeping with traditions, the organization will again sponsored a series of food drives with a clever twist that elicits participation from students, school athletes and members of the community alike.
Consisting of 16 juniors and seniors, participation in the program shows a marked increase over last years nine member group.
On Thursday Jan. 29 and Friday Jan. 30 as JV and varsity girls and boys basketball teams are busy doing their job up and down the court, Honor Society members will be collecting non-perishable food items in lieu of admission into the games in an effort to fill shelves of the McDonough and Oxford food pantries.
Spectators can opt to pay with non-perishable food items at a rate of one item per student or two items per adult or alternatively $1 per student, $2 per adult – all of which will be donated to the pantries.
The food pantries indicate that while there is a year-round need for general donations, the bitter cold months of mid-winter place an emphasized need as many less than fortunate are forced to prioritize heating their homes versus eating regular meals. Food insecurities spike in the cold season, which is a motivates the students to give back.
“It truly is a honor to be a part of the honor Society, said Ford. “It really sets these students a part from the rest of the pack as members must maintain an “A” average while participating in numerous volunteer programs such as the food drive,” she added.
Along with stocking local food pantries, the group also usher at the annual school play and high school graduation ceremonies; man the phones of the Dollars for Scholars phone-a-thon program and serve as guides to incoming freshmen at the beginning of the academic year and organizing the annual Easter egg hunt at the primary school.
For more than 55 years Oxford Academy has been churning out Honor Society members, which expects a certain type of behavior and academic excellence from it's members.
Members are judged on their civic activities within the community and leadership abilities. “Another activity that the group manages is the sponsoring of a family in need at Christmas every year,” explained Ford. “In nutshell they basically provide Christmas for a disadvantaged family by providing the meals, gifts for children and good sprits to the less fortunate.
Aside from the obvious benefits of philanthropy, the students will have the ability to have membership listed on their transcripts which is an enticing bonus for college admissions. “It's a very good thing for them to have on their transcript; and allows them the ability to stand apart from their peers,” added Ford.
Being a part of the Honor society acts as an opportunity to enhance leadership and allows high school students the ability the realize that they can help others and change lives.
“It's not just about having good grades and transcript endorsement, it's about doing good things and having the ability to make life better for others,” said Ford. She added, “While some of the Honor Society's programs are required for all members, many are on a voluntary basis – and the majority of these students opt to volunteer for all of our events; they really are a great group of young adults that the community can be proud of.”
The Blackhawk JV/Varsity teams take on Afton beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the High School gymnasium on South Washington avenue Thursday and Friday evenings.