MANSFIELD, Ohio – Senior John Marhekfa sat on a desk licking a lollipop and pulling string while his younger sister Teresa tied a friendship bracelet inside a Madison High School classroom Wednesday afternoon.
This took place well after the final bell, for a good cause beyond each youngster, and well beyond even their school walls. The friendship bracelets will be sold as part of the annual Merry Madison Christmas program.
“It’s a really positive thing, probably the biggest thing that we do school-wide,” said high school principal Rob Peterson. “The kids really get into it.”
Various organizations within the school are involved, including Student Council, Key Club, Spanish Club, and the boys basketball team among others.
“This year we’re going to sponsor eight families,” said Madison Business Management and Technology teacher Holly North. “Some years we’ve helped 10, some years more, some years less.”
A call goes out to all the buildings within the district and staff members are asked to identify families in need. Ideally, two families are identified from each building.
From there students get involved. The Key Club, anchored by teacher Eddie Walker, puts on a popular Penny Drive that raises as much as $1,000.
“Last year the boys basketball team took a family,” math teacher Tracey Burden said. “They were great. They took over (responsibility) for a shopping list for that family.”
Students also participate in a canned food drive. A heaping platter of cookies is also part of the delivery of goods to each family.
“It’s that time when everybody in our school is working toward the same goal,” Burden said. “These are Madison kids we’re helping, so the (students) feel connected. This might be someone’s family who rides on their bus.”
Money goes toward purchasing gift cards and the goal is to raise enough for a $100 gift card for each family to Save-A-Lot.
The families supply sizes as well for hats, coats, boots, gloves, etc.
Burden said one year a family had to go back and forth to Cleveland for medical appointments and a couple of local businesses chipped in $100 gas cards to help defray the costs of travel.
That scenario is not unusual, Burden said, adding she expects more local businesses will step forward again this year to lend a hand.
“I’ve been here for 20 years and this has gone on here since before I started,” North said. “Our staff has really been great about supporting it and the students get into it, too.”
