Jackson students support three projects

Jackson High School students supplied enough canned food to the Elks Christmas basket program to meet the entire need. Students and staff also participated in Adopt-A-Family and Shoe Boxes for Southeast Missourian

Jackson High School students and staff participated three ways in holiday giving this year. Their support for Adopt-A-Family, the canned food drive and Shoe Boxes for Soldiers will make Christmas a little brighter locally and overseas.

Jackson teachers "adopted" 114 needy area families. Students responded with cash and requested items.

"I give because I can," said junior Jenny Eakins. "I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to help out. I do it to help other people have a good Christmas."

The school's food drive resulted in the delivery of 5,785 cans to the Elks Lodge. This fulfilled the entire canned food need for the Christmas basket program. The high school's additional cash donation of $1,081 enabled the Elks to purchase baskets and other items to complete the Christmas baskets, their biggest annual charitable event. The high school's canned food drive collected 3,285 more cans than last year.

Shoe Boxes for Soldiers, a new giving opportunity, was successful in meeting soldiers' needs for basic items like lip balm, magazines and batteries. Students also included personal messages and cards to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq.

"It's kind of obvious why people give things. It seemed like they really needed stuff," junior Amy Sappington said. "If I was over there I would want stuff if I wasn't getting to spend Christmas with my family."