ELY –Just in time for the holidays, Memorial High School is giving back to the Ely community through a variety of service projects involving school staff teamed with students.
The idea developed as a way to bring students together while distance-learning protocols remain in place because of COVID-19.
“We are supplementing our distance-learning, and the mental health challenges of feeling isolated, with activities in mind to support our community,” said 6-12 Principal Megan Anderson. “We are working on all kinds of community projects. Our students had lots of great ideas.”
One cohort of students asked for donations of unused Christmas decorations and collected the extra holiday cheer last week to light up the school.
“We want to tell the community that we are still here and that our school still matters,” said junior Sidney Marshall as she cut out giant paper snowflakes to put in the windows over Memorial school’s main entrance.
Marshall was joined by Zoe Devine, Abbey Johnson, Drayke Hanninen, Ester Anderson, Sydney Durkin, Jakson Hegman and Logan Loe at various times during their project workshops. The students worked with Physical Ed teacher Chelsea Blomberg who admitted, “All this great work is done by these students, I’m just a door opener as they make their way around campus to decorate.”
Other groups worked on appreciation and thank-you cards for all essential workers in the community. Recipients range from clinic and hospital staff to those working in area grocery stores.
“Some of the kids are making Christmas cards with greetings for those residents in the nursing home and senior living places here in town,” Anderson said. “It is so nice to see that our students want to make sure everyone gets some kind of holiday greeting.”
The local Youth in Action group recently collected about 900 pounds of donated food and delivered it to the Ely Area Food Shelf, she added.
“Some students are working with Ely Community Resource and their annual Holiday Project and are assembling meal boxes for those families in our community in need,” Anderson said. “Each box includes food as well as a family game. They hope to assemble several dozen and distribute them in time for Christmas.”
An assembly line of students gathered in the school cafeteria Friday morning to complete more than 50 boxes of food. A family meal of lasagna, garlic bread, vegetables, cookie dough and a family game was put together.
“I am so glad to be part of this to help out our community,” said senior Madelyn Roderick as she helped gather items for each food box with classmate Gabby Motes and other students.
Donations were accepted to defray the costs of $24 per box. To help, send funds to Holiday Projects, ISD 696, 600 Harvey Street, Ely, MN 55731.
“We have staff and students all involved in helping make our community a better place,” Anderson said. “That is so important as we work through this pandemic, especially now with Christmas time upon us.”
A few of the groups came together last week to make kindling wood bundles to be used as fireplace, wood stove and camp fire starters. These bundles are available free to anyone. There is a trailer of the fire starters available in the Memorial student parking lot. Feel free to stop by and grab a bundle for you or someone you know while supplies last.
Merry Christmas!