The 500 students at CHS work together throughout one month every year to reclaim their position as Food Gatherers’ third largest donor annually. The school serves 60,000 people every year, which is over 100 times the student population.
Since 2009, Community has been fundraising for Food Gatherers, an organization founded by Zingerman’s Delicatessen to help fight the hunger issue in Washtenaw County.
While supporting the community is the main priority of the fundraiser, it provides an exciting opportunity for a friendly competition between forums. To raise the most money, students organize fundraisers like bake sales and can drives. Some forums sell pizza or host a mac and cheese party during lunch. Junior Maggie Williams helped set up the Whiteside forum carnival hosted by providing tables and baked goods.
Many forums propose challenges they will complete at different milestones of their fundraising goals as incentives to promote donations. For example, sophomore Caitlin Dick-Ruíz will have to speak in only haiku for a whole day if her forum reaches $750.
Senior Kaylie Peters creates her own art, which is available to purchase in support of her forum. Peters enjoys getting to know her forum better through fundraising.
“It’s just so much fun seeing people, not only together to have fun in these activities, but also having a sense of togetherness,” Peters said. “It really brings us all together.”
For many students, this fundraiser holds significance on a personal level. Dick-Ruíz values that Community has this fundraiser to help those in the Ann Arbor area. Her mom grew up close to the poverty line, causing her family to grow their own food as a more affordable option, and she hates to see food go to waste.
“The thing is, not everyone has this chance to fundraise for a food bank,” Dick-Ruíz said. “And the fact that we, as a school, are trying to do something about it, instead of just worrying about our next history tests or whatever, is something I really like about Community. We learn more about the world around us and how to deal with certain difficult situations, like, hunger.”
Many teachers are also grateful that CHS teaches the importance of contributing to the community. Social studies and forum leader Chloe Root enjoys the connection her forum develops with one another as well as with the community.
“I think it’s really important because our mission as a school is connected to being part of the community,” Root said. “I feel like it’s a really cool way to actually give back to the community, and also be involved and be aware of the issues that actually face our communities too. Plus, it brings forums together, which is always fun.”
Williams is proud to be a part of this annual fundraiser, which impacts her community tremendously.
“The sheer amount of money that we raise shows the fact that we as a school get together to give back to the community so much is really important,” Williams said. “I think that making sure everyone in the Ann Arbor community has enough to eat, is one step closer to making this a more healthy, thriving community.”
