With the holidays around the corner, we’re entering the time of year for giving. CAMPUS has been encouraging students to give back to the community through a fundraiser called “Help A Panther” that wraps up tomorrow. CAMPUS is collecting all types of non-perishable food items such as oatmeal, single-serve cereals, breakfast food, rice, canned foods, and toiletry items such as shampoo, deodorant, mouthwash, bar soap, and more.  The fundraiser started on November 3 and ends tomorrow, Friday, November 17.

“The fundraiser is about helping those in our school who need things they may not have. We just want them to know that we care and we’re trying to do whatever possible to help them,” said junior Candyce Cudjoe.

The food and items that are collected will be donated to the panther pantry and distributed among fellow panther families that are in need of these supplies. For some students, the breakfast and lunch they get from the school is the only meals they’ll eat that day.

“The students who need these items inspired us to do this, and we want to give back to our school because we believe in the community. We need to take care of each other,” said CAMPUS sponsor and English teacher Martha Ryman.

CAMPUS’s goal is to get as much money and food as possible so that panther families will have what they need over Thanksgiving and winter break when they will not have access to school breakfast and lunches.

“We ultimately want to fill the shelves in the panther pantry because they are getting empty, so we really need more donations,” said Ryman.

The items are currently being collected in every English class. There are a lot of empty baskets in the classrooms that aren’t getting filled, according to Ryman.

“People should donate because it’s for a great cause and we’re helping our panther family,” said Cudjoe.