By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK — Hundreds of students volunteered thousands of hours over the course of the 2015-16 school year at North Brunswick Township High School.
Through dozens of community service projects and charitable donations, students collectively gave 2,384 hours of their time and raised $22,675 to benefit others.
“We are very proud of all our clubs and their advisors to commit themselves to volunteering their time or raising money to support our community or nonprofit groups,” Principal Pete Clark said.
The Class of 2018 participated in holiday gift wrap and distribution at the Suydam Street Reformed Church in New Brunswick; the Black Cultural Alliance provided assistance to the church as well.
Several groups, including the Classes of 2016 and 2017, Alchemist Theatre Company, French, German, Italian, MediterrAsian and Spanish clubs, PAWS, PUSH, Raider Academics and Model UN, donated money to the Student Government Organization, which in turn donated $5,000 to the Police Unity Tour.
The Banner and Wigs for Kids also donated to the Police Unity Tour as well.
The American Red Cross Club took part in a Safety Ambassador Program and helped with school events and tutoring.
The Anime Club donated gently used games to Saint Peter’s University Children’s Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, both in New Brunswick.
The Care to Walk Club raised $10,000 for the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
The choir donated its service to the Sept. 11 program, Heritage Day, the staff versus policemen charity softball game, football games, the winter festival, Saint Peter’s Hospital Auxiliary Group at Rutgers Club, the Jewish Regency Heritage Home, the Senior Housing building and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program.
The Environmental Club cleaned up the school grounds — inside and out — and recycled ink cartridges.
The Film Production Club delivered five public service announcements to the Middlesex County safe driving contest.
Future Business Leaders of America donated to the March of Dimes.
The Human Rights Coalition donated money to the Global Fund for Women and held a Fast for Freedom Day and a Day of Silence to raise awareness.
Key Club members tutored students at Judd Elementary School, held a food drive for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, participated in Read Across America and attended an autism awareness event in South Brunswick.
The Latin American Club spent two hours each Thursday tutoring students at Linwood Middle School.
Members of “Painted Words,” the school’s literary magazine, made a monetary donation to the Fisherhouse Foundation in support of providing comfort homes for families of recovering soldiers and veterans.
The National Art Honor Society participated in a Halloween event for the township, created art murals inside the school and helped with the Art Club at Livingston Park Elementary School.
National Honor Society members tutored English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students, held a book drive, sold fundraising stars for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, volunteered for Purple for Pappas, made holiday cards for wounded soldiers, prepared sandwiches for a local shelter, shoveled snow for township neighbors, held a clothing drive and assisted the Salvation Army.
The orchestra performed at the Community Tree Lighting and Holiday celebration.
Raider Robotix Team 25 collected two large bins of food and three tons of slightly worn shoes.
Students who participated in the annual Rock-a-Thon donated to the Ronald McDonald House and North Brunswick Food Bank, while also sending 200 care packages to soldiers overseas.
The Student Government Organization held two community blood drives, contributed wreaths to the Sept. 11 ceremony and took part in the Columbus Day and Veterans Day celebrations.
Yearbook seniors worked with students in the POSSibilities transition program to create a newsletter.
“It is important for our students to give back to the community and to be part of the North Brunswick community. The importance of connecting between the town and the school is to provide role models for our younger students. That is why ‘We are North Brunswick,'” Clark said.
Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@gmnews.com.
