The holiday season brings the end of the first semester, finals, and BSSD schools reaching the halfway mark of the school year. They also bring a longstanding tradition of caring and giving.
Our BSSD students and staff carry on a spirit of giving, caring and selflessness by taking part in various ways to help provide for community members in need.
From high school students gathering presents and items in the annual Adopt-a-Family effort, to middle school students providing donations to Drumm Farm, elementary schools holding mitten, coat and hat drives, to BSSD Public Safety officers taking part in Shop with a Cop – BSSD gives back to the community in multiple ways.
At Blue Springs South High School, students and staff provided more than 1,000 gifts and items for 32 families in the Adopt-a-Family effort. Local businesses Kennedy Jewelers and Scooter’s Coffee also have chipped in the past two years.
“Adopt-a-Family is definitely a school-wide and even community-wide effort,” BSSHS Student Senate sponsor Ashleigh Bertrand said. “And we have many teams and clubs adopt individuals. A bulk of items are thanks to staff and students, but we have a couple families who adopt individuals or families. Same for staff members who go above and beyond.”
Jaguars senior Ava Wilmes said being a part of a giving tradition is heartwarming.
“Knowing that so many people will be having a better holiday because of the generosity of students and staff makes me so happy,” she said. “Thinking about them opening presents Christmas morning makes my day.”
For the past three years, members of the Unity in Action group from Blue Springs High School, and the POC + Allies group from BSSHS have served at Lazarus Ministries in Kansas City, setting up Christmas decorations, serving lunch and helping pass out clothes. Lazurus helps provide clothes, shoes, toiletries, hygiene products, household items, and lunch to the needy in Kansas City.
Wildcats senior Aaliyah Harris said, “This was my second trip to Lazarus with our school’s unity group and I have really enjoyed getting to learn about the community outside of my immediate circle. I’ve learned a lot about different situations over the last couple of years and love that we get to have this opportunity through the school.”
Moreland Ridge Middle School National Junior Honor Society students also provided for others by raising more than $4,700 to purchase fuel cards and food cards for Drumm Farm Center for Children.