Area students give back to homeless shelter

Highland County students have made an effort to give back to their community with initiatives that benefit the Highland County Homeless Shelter.

The business technology class at Hillsboro Middle School was challenged by their teacher Mrs. Miles to bring in canned goods, and they responded. Of the six classes that Mrs. Miles teaches, the eighth period class, responded with the most canned goods and was treated to a pizza party and a visit by Highland County Homeless Shelter Executive Director, Michael Ballentine. In total, all the students brought in and donated more than 160 cans of food. 

Girl Scout troop 594 recently visited the Homeless Shelter and brought gifts and blessed shelter patrons with their voices and a few instruments. They sang some songs and brought in a flute and a snare drum as they spread their adolescent attitude through out the shelter to the delight of all the staff and residents. 

In the cold of the night both high and middle school kids braved the weather and slept outside in boxes as members of the Greenfield Hi-Y. Each kid was allowed one pillow, blanket, drink and food item as they took part in their annual Cardboard City. The students were allowed to enter the school in two hour intervals to use the restroom and were encouraged to wear as many articles of clothing as they wanted. The group raised $474 for the Highland County Homeless Shelter and had an experience they will never forget that some people are forced to live everyday and we are banning together to fight every day.

White Oak service learning center invited Ballentine to be an honored guest recently as well. He gave the class some insights as to how a homeless shelter works and the daily obstacles homeless people in our community face. Currently, one of the learning center students, Ashley Crone is volunteering for the shelter two days a week after school and we are currently planning a big Valentines Day fundraiser involving the shelter and Ashley’s cooking ability. 

“These kids of all colors, backgrounds, sexes, and ages are learning very early in life how to make a difference in their community" Ballentine said. “It is an honor to team with such men and women of character as well as the teachers and administrators leading these kids."