Clubs contribute to community

With winter break approaching, U-High’s clubs have taken the idea of the season of giving to heart and are volunteering, hosting fundraisers and helping in the community.

The Jewish Students’ Association hosted its annual toy drive, donating to La Rabida Children’s Hospital the week of Nov. 18.

“It is something we do every year, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful,” JSA President Nathan Applebaum said. “We do this because, particularly now, it’s important to help in the community.”

But JSA isn’t the only club completing annual traditions for the season of giving.

Refugee Awareness Club ran  a booth at Lab’s Holiday Bazaar during the week of Dec. 2 to fundraise for Hyde Park Refugee Project. According to RAC co-president Claire Duncan, this year, the Holiday Bizarre was more student focused.

“Many people coming from places such as Syria haven’t experienced winter like we have,” Claire said, “So our donations will likely go toward coats and things like that.”

Also focusing on the idea of warm clothing, Clothe the World hosted a sock drive Nov. 4-15 to donate to Sarah’s Circle, an organization which provides a variety of services for homeless and at-risk women during the day.

“I could tell you how brutal Chicago winters are and that’s with all of our privilege,” Vice President Kara Xu said. “Now think about that winter without heat or a coat or any number of things to keep you warm. That’s why it’s important to recognize and help in our communities, especially now.”

Another example of a club volunteering in the community is REACT. Throughout the fall, the club has organized lunch packings and is volunteering at Ronald McDonald House Dec. 14. 

For President Kepler Boonstra, volunteering in Chicago during the winter is particularly important. He says, during the fall the club does more fun things, but as temperatures drop, they get into gear and try to make their volunteering as frequent as they can. Each of these clubs and many more throughout U-High are embracing the season of giving to motivate volunteering and helping in the community.

“Around the holidays, we need to notice our privilege,” Kepler said, “As Lab community members move from there to helping others.”