Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following announcement on December 17.
DECEMBER 17, 2021 – At Samaritan Ministries, Thursday turned into an informal John F. Kennedy High School Day.
On the morning of Thursday Dec. 16, people from the school made two substantial gifts – one of more than $500 in cash and the other enough food to fill the beds of two pickup trucks.
John F. Kennedy High Day started with teachers Mae Witherspoon and Charles Rogers arriving at Samaritan Ministries with a basket filled with money that staff members and students had donated to the school’s Samaritan Ministries Penny Campaign.
Witherspoon and Rogers are Business Education teachers, and their students in the Future Business Leaders of America club at Kennedy coordinated the campaign, making posters, putting them up throughout the school, and placing donation stations in classrooms, offices, and other rooms.
“They did an outstanding job,” Witherspoon said.
The Penny Campaign project started in early October. In the weeks that followed – along with pennies and other change – people donated $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills.
Penny 82When Witherspoon and Rogers counted it all, the total came to $537.84.
“The students did an amazing job bringing in the funds,” Rogers said.
“We’re proud of our students and staff,” Witherspoon said.
At Samaritan Ministries, they presented the basket to Shonta Fleming, the assistant director.
“We truly appreciate the generosity of everyone involved,” Fleming said. “This will definitely help us fulfilling our mission of providing food, shelter and hope to our community.”
The Kennedy food donation project was done with the support of Ionic Lodge 72 of the Masons.
David Ebron, who is a Technical Education teacher at Kennedy, and student Myles Presswood are both members, and, under the leadership of Montinique Cager, the Worshipful Master of the lodge, lodge members decided to donate money to buy not only canned goods and other staples but also turkeys.
After bagging everything at Kennedy, the lodge members at Kennedy loaded the bags into the beds of two pickup trucks and headed to Samaritan Ministries on Northwest Boulevard, where other lodge members met them.
Penny 86Jan Kelly, the director of Samaritan Ministries, and Tiffani Pepper, the soup kitchen assistant manager, were on hand to welcome them.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Pepper said as the members loaded the bags onto carts and wheeled them into the building.
Ebron also brought holiday cards that students had made. When he presented them to Kelly and Pepper, Pepper said she planned to post them on the walls of the soup kitchen.
Knowing they were coming, Kelly said, she already felt quite grateful. She didn’t realize how much they were bringing, though, and seeing it all touched her even more.
“I am overwhelmed by the generosity,” Kelly said. “It’s a pretty incredible collection to help people.”
“I also love that it’s a partnership with the lodge and technology class.”
That partnership gives her a sense of connecting with the wider community, she said, which is one of Samaritan Ministries’ goals.
Penny 95“That’s how we make a difference.”
Nicole Gottfried, who is the Magnet Coordinator at Kennedy, and Deborah Cochran, the Career Development Coordinator at Kennedy, where both on hand.
“Community involvement is essential for character building and helps our students become good citizens by giving back to the community,” Cochran said.
“There is a quantifiable impact from the Penny Campaign, and 30 families will receive food bags with turkey and sides.”
“There is also an immeasurable impact of kindness and compassion from this community service project. This is a great service activity where our students are making a difference.”
By no means is Kennedy the only Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school to support Samaritan Ministries. Other schools that have made donations include:
Penny 98Clemmons Middle
West Forsyth High (Key Club)
Ward Elementary
Ashley Academy
The Special Children's School
Hanes Magnet Middle
Glenn High (JROTC)
Original source can be found here.
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