Grad projects target youth hunger

Four Superior High School seniors have already figured out life is not all about them and them alone, and their senior projects show it.

While all senior projects have merit, when you can learn about the plight of others and learn something about yourself, eyes and minds open and lifelong commitments are born.

“Students started completing senior projects in 2005,” said Mike Matejka, senior project coordinator. “Every year a handful of students focus their projects on helping others in the community. This year four students, Tori Johnson, Haley Tribbey, Trevor Fair and Connor Anderson-Petroske are helping students with a need for food on the weekends. During the school week, students can have three meals at school. But those in need have nothing on the weekends. A program called Nutrition on Weekends has blossomed over the past few years. These students have chosen to help. Johnson and Tribbey are hosting a massive garage sale, and Fair and Anderson-Petroske are working with area bowling alleys running 50/50 raffles.”

Both groups will donate 100 percent of proceeds to help other students.

More than 100 kids in Superior are homeless and have no food when school is not in session. NOW got its start three years ago, led by staff at National Bank of Commerce.

Johnson and Tribbey’s senior project has involved a lot of work as they will be hosting a garage sale 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the United Presbyterian Church, 229 N. 28th St., Superior. Both young women know about the importance of helping others.

“We thought it was a great idea since they are doing something for the people who need help locally,” Johnson said about the decision to raise money for Hunger Takes No Holiday. “It just seems like common sense and the natural thing to do. Why just sit around and do nothing when you can make an impact on the world around you?”

Tribbey added to those sentiments: “I think the most important thing that I have learned is that there are many ways that someone can help out their community and any little thing that you do can really affect someone in a big way. Mr. Matejka told me about this charity and from what he told me and how much it impacts the community, I decided it was the perfect charity to donate to.”

Along with the garage sale, baked goods will be sold to help raise money. They are inviting everyone to their event to have a great time, buy some great items at low prices and to help them help others and make a difference in the lives of other kids.

Anderson-Petroske and Fair had heard of Hunger Takes no Holiday and wanted to contribute what they could and take part in helping others. Their project involves a couple of local businesses, Landmark Lanes and Village Lanes. Their project involves going to the bowling alleys to sell 50/50 raffle tickets. By selling these chances for $1, they hope to be able to contribute $500 to Hunger Takes no Holiday so they can help others. These two young men, just as Tribbey and Johnson, are in total agreement on their motives:

“It is important to help others because you never know when you may need help and it builds a stronger community. The most important thing we are learning in our senior project is that even a small amount can help, even a dollar, or a small amount of time can be spent in helping people. That feels great.”

After a tour of Second Harvest Food Bank conducted by Shaye Moris, executive director, both have volunteered about 12 hours and have packed and boxed 1,900 bags of food to be delivered to Twin Ports elementary schools.

If you see a couple of really great young men selling 50/50 tickets at Landmark or Village Lanes in Superior, help them out by purchasing a few. You may be a big winner, but in reality, Fair and Anderson-Petroske will be the big winners because of the help they will be able to give so many kids in Superior.

Both projects are incredible. For these young people to realize and understand the problems so many kids in Superior face, their wisdom, compassion and empathy is far superior than most their age. All of them feel that “lack of food by anyone, let alone kids, should not be.”

Please purchase raffle tickets from Connor and Trevor if you see them. Be as generous as you can. And don’t miss Tribbey and Johnson’s special day on the 16th at United Presbyterian Church. Even if you don’t think you need anything from the sale, Johnson has a great suggestion: “It’s for a good cause, and even if you aren’t interested in buying any items, we will have a bake sale, which everyone loves.”

I’ll bet they have oatmeal raisin cookies. I know I will be there. And I want 20 raffle tickets.

And thanks for both projects, and the four incredible kids who know what a big part of life is about.

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