Volunteerism & Individual Action
See past volunteer projects Canyon High School Chapter Members have completed as well as individual action students are taking this year to help give back!
2019-2020 School Year: Volunteer Projects
Texas is ranked second in the nation for food insecurity, with 1 in 6 living in food insecure homes. That is why Canyon High School students had a desire to combat hunger and food insecurity in their hallways. They understand that, over time, poor nutrition can increase risk of depression and anxiety, while also decreasing energy levels, creativity, and focus. Their school offers a “food bank” within the office of their school, but it is mostly funded by the teachers and staff. Students decided to open up a community-wide food drive, which raised over 1600 items in only 10 days. Afterwards, an estimated 30 students spent an afternoon cleaning the office shelves in the school’s food bank and re-organizing items to keep potential allergy-inducing foods like peanut butter, gluten, and soy sectioned together.
Members of the Canyon High School because I said I would Chapter spent a recent Saturday honoring members of their community who may not receive the recognition they deserve. These Unsung Heroes were 40 local veterans who are currently living in a local retirement community, and to show their support, Chapter Members put on a Veteran’s Appreciation Ceremony. This included a presentation, individualized certificates for each service member, and a luncheon where seniors and students were able to mingle and share stories about the promises each had kept. Their Chapter Advisors received so many compliments from the residents who were impressed with the support these teens had shown them, especially on a Saturday.
After school ended for the year, 16 students put off their summer break just a little longer to take part in a beautification effort. Students planted 2 trees, 4 bushes, and 11 flowers in the front side of their school. The Teacher Advisor overseeing the project reflected that the experience helped students understand the importance of hard work and manual labor. Students were very proud of their work, and the clerical and custodial staff complimented them greatly! Some students even stated they would love to plant flowers and shrubs in their own yards at home to help beautify their own neighborhoods!