Hillsborough Middle School Collects Over 600 Pairs Of Shoes For Donation
The STAR (Students Together Achieving Respect) student organization at Hillsborough Middle School turned Tuesdays during the month of January into Shoes-days. The club members encouraged the entire student body and staff to participate in a community service project to collect new and gently worn shoes for donation to several local organizations as well as an international aid group.
The shoe drive idea began with Mrs. Angela Krissow, a Hillsborough Middle School guidance intern. While at her previous school, the Academy of St. Francis of Assisi in Totowa, NJ, Mrs. Krissow assisted student Robert Callegari, who initiated and ran a shoe drive to benefit residents of Angola, Africa through the Salesian Missionary Sisters. Mrs. Krissow approached the Hillsborough Middle School STAR advisors, Mrs. Anna Mahler and Mr. Pat Heck with the idea of partnering with Robert and his classmates at the Academy of St. Francis of Assisi and doing a joint shoe drive this year. Mahler and Heck brought the idea to STAR students who jumped at the opportunity to help but, they felt it was important to identify local organizations that could benefit from the drive as well.
STAR members wrote catchy slogans to advertise their community service endeavor and created a friendly competition among homerooms of who could collect the most shoes. In the end, the response from the Hillsborough Middle School community was overwhelming. Over 600 pairs of shoes were donated to the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP) in Somerville, the Goodwill Store in Bound Brook, My Neighbor’s Boutique in Somerset as well as to the Salesian Missionary Sisters to be delivered to Angola.
“We hope to make this an annual mission and are excited for what is to come in helping our neighbors here and abroad,” stated Krissow.
Pictured are students in Mrs. Kiel's homeroom along with Principal, Dr. Joe Trybulski. This homeroom won the "The Golden Shoe Award" and collected 168 pairs of shoes for donation.
About Hillsborough Middle School STAR
STAR (Students Together Achieving Respect) is a student group at Hillsborough Middle School. The members are 7th and 8th grade students who join the club to create positivity and generate kindness among their peers and school community. The club is sponsored by the Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance.
More information at www.htps.us