Eighth graders concerned for hurricane victims collected donations through FriendStock talent-show on Oct. 27
Concerned about victims of the latest hurricanes, eighth graders at Friends School Mullica Hill wanted to do something to help. Their idea was to take the annual talent show, normally held during school hours, and transform it into FriendStock, a Friday evening benefit concert.
“We wanted to help make-up for the things that they lost,” said eighth grader Xavier Hamilton. “That’s Quaker values; that’s what we do.”
The result was a packed gym on Oct. 27 and a full lineup of dancing, singing and a variety of performances from both students and teachers. The whole school pulled together to try to make it a fun and memorable night. Even Interim Head of School Matthew Bradley hit the stage and performed a lively duet of “Anything You Can Do” with music teacher Kate Hayden.
“I am still humming the songs,” Bradley said. “The event was a great success in bringing together the extended Friends School Mullica Hill community, including current students of all ages, alumni, faculty, family members and friends of the school, in support of a worthy cause.”
Students collected donations at the door and ran vendor booths, selling snacks and handmade crafts such as magnets and bracelets. After the final tallies, the kids at the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school raked in $2,162 for AdoptAClassroom.org’s Hurricane Relief Fund and $290 for the Humane Society’s Disaster Relief Fund.
Eighth grader Zachary Brosky sees this kind of service work as just part of the ethos of the school.
“As a Friends School, it’s important we try our best to help — it’s what our school’s all about,” Brosky said.