By Jet Burnham | [email protected]

Every year, Fort Herriman Middle School chooses a charity the student body will spend the month of December raising funds for. Last year they raised over $7,000 for Kauri Sue Hamilton School and Christmas for Kids. This year, in partnership with Mountain Ridge High School, they will be collecting donations for Hearts Knit Together, an organization which supports people escaping domestic violence, sexual abuse or war.

“The joy and sense of purpose that our students gain from participating in these types of activities and in helping others in need is a worthwhile learning experience for all involved,” FHMS Assistant Principal Lisa Jackson said.

Student body officers have planned activities to encourage students to donate supplies Hearts Knit Together has requested. These items, such as clothing and hygiene items, will be used by people their own age. Throughout the first week of December, they will have spirit days and activities. Students will bring in donations and can also purchase candy and soda, with proceeds going to the charity.

Community members are invited to participate in a DiamondBack Giveback fundraiser activity Dec. 8 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the school. They are asked to bring donations of books, games, clothing, hygiene items and blankets. Activities include a craft and food market, a visit from Santa and the Herriman police department's K-9 unit. There will be performances by Herriman HarmonX, the Herriman Children's Choir, MRHS Madrigals, FHMS students and local elementary school students. Punch cards for activities can be purchased online, at the school or at the door.

            Community members are also invited to donate toys to Butterfield Canyon Elementary’s Toys for Tots toy drive. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 2. This is BCE’s sixth year participating in the toy drive.

“The students realize that there are kids just like them out there that are in need, and they really want to help bring joy to others,” BCE teacher Keri Cedor said.

Cedor said they fill 10 to 14 donation boxes each year.

“I believe we have been so successful because our students and community love spreading joy and happiness to others,” she said.

Copper Mountain Middle School is holding a food drive for the Utah Food Bank. Student body officers are organizing this year’s food drive and activities to encourage student and community participation.

            Instead of collecting items for their charity drive, students who attend the Jordan Virtual Academy at Rocky Peak Elementary, Kelsey Peak Middle and King’s Peak High will be collecting service hours.

Last year, students performed a total of 1,203 hours of service. This year’s goal is 1,500 hours.

            JVLA provides community service opportunities throughout the year—students and staff collected 536 pairs of socks for The Road Home in October.

“Service helps kids look outside themselves and takes them away from their own problems,” KPHS instructional coach Ami Anderson said.

To achieve this year’s higher goal, a Day of Service was held Nov. 11 to kick-off the service season. Students and their families were invited to participate in four service projects at two locations.

Lily Reutze, an eighth grader at Kelsey Peak Middle School, and her mother Lisa, who works as an aid at Rocky Peak Elementary, spent time helping with each of the projects. They were two of many students and staff members who helped make 300 yarn snowballs to donate to Kauri Sue Hamilton school as an indoor snowball fight kit, colored 40 food boxes for the Food Bank, tied 12 quilts for Primary Children’s Hospital and craft over 200 cards for care center residents.

“It's good to help out your community and to help other people,” said Lily.

            KPHS ninth grader Blue Hegstrom spent a few hours at the Day of Service. He said he loves helping others and that he often helps out at home. The time he spends providing service for his family will count toward the service hours he contributes to the school total.

            KPHS sophomore Haedyn Cleveland said, as a virtual student, it was great to get out of the house and meet with her peers at the Day of Service activity. She said she appreciates that her school values community service and provides opportunities to get involved.

“It's important to help people and the school wants to set us on the path so we know how to start helping people and then we can continue to do that when we’re adults and in different environments,” Haedyn said.