Competition in the Lenape Regional High School District isn’t just limited to the classroom or the athletic fields.
The school district’s Give to Goodwill drive has become one of the district’s most intense competitions of the year.
The Lenape district is entering the home stretch of the 2014 drive. The contest runs through April 22, with the winning high school receiving a plaque for its efforts. Cherokee won the contest in 2012 and 2013.
Goodwill Public Relations Manager Juli Lundberg said the schools enjoy the spirit of competition, but said the contest’s biggest impact is the positive effect it has on the schools’ service community.
During the contest, representatives from each school visit Goodwill’s facilities in Pennsauken to see how their donations benefit the community. Brian Laddey, the assistant athletic and activities director at Lenape High School, said a group of student leaders representing different grades and organizations is selected to go to the facility each year.
“I think that’s one of the most significant things we do and what the clothing drive in general does,” Laddey said
The group of students will pay a visit to Goodwill on April 14. Lundberg said many people think Goodwill simply sells secondhand clothes and products donated from around the area. However, many do not realize where the money Goodwill raises goes.
“When you donate and when you shop, all of the funds are funneled into job training programs,” Lundberg said.
Goodwill’s job services program is a huge part of its overall mission. The organization provides job training and search services to people who are disabled or disadvantaged.
“We have job developers and job coaches who help you get work,” Lundberg said.
Laddey said the trip to Goodwill brings things full circle.
“The kids are always very impressed with the job training that Goodwill provides,” he said. “Our Lenape kids see young adults and adults doing meaningful work that they couldn’t do without Goodwill.”
“It’s important for students to understand how their donations are used,” Lundberg said.
The impact of Give to Goodwill has been enormous. In the contest’s first three years, the district donated a total of 58,856 pounds of goods. As of March 28, the district has already donated 695 bags of items, drastically more than the 438 bags donated all of last year.
Goodwill also gives back to the Lenape district in various ways. In addition to allowing students to visit its facilities, guest speakers and presenters appear at the high schools throughout the year to provide service opportunities.
“It all kind of stems from the partnership we’ve had,” said Chris Heilig, the district’s director of programs and planning. “It’s been a district-wide event.”
While all of the schools are working toward the same cause, the contest has facilitated an intra-district competition that increases in intensity as the weeks go by. While Cherokee entered this year’s competition as the champion, it found itself behind in the opening weeks as Seneca streaked out to the lead.
In the last couple of weeks, the Chiefs have slowly made up ground, pulling within 12 bags of the Golden Eagles. As of a pickup on March 28, Seneca has collected 256 bags, Cherokee 244 bags, Lenape 121 bags and Shawnee 74 bags.
Donation bins are accessible to the public in all four schools’ parking lots. Give to Goodwill runs through April 22.
