High schools helping Out the community

Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.

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Edmond’s three public high schools are in the middle of yet another season of giving back to the community.

For many years the youth, at Edmond North, Edmond Santa Fe and Memorial High School, select a non-profit to help. Several activities are held to help raise funds for the various charities.

The giving started in February at North with its annual Bring a Light to Others event or BALTO.

Student Kate Abney, a co-chair of the drive, said $251,441 was raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Part of the funds also are earmarked by each school in an effort called common thread. This year the common thread is City Care.

Edmond Public Schools spokesperson, Susan Parks-Schlepp, said that seven percent of the benefits at each school go toward City Care, which serves homeless families in Edmond.

She added that the Edmond School District has 217 homeless students.

The giving back continued last week with Santa Fe High School having its annual Double Wolf Dare Week. The cause there was Not Your Average Joe, a non-profit coffee shop that aims to provide inclusive employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In an assembly there last Friday, it was announced that just over $202,000 was raised.

This week Memorial is having Swine Week. Memorial first started Swine Week in 1986. They are looking to help Hope House OKC. The nonprofit helps homeless with clothes, transition homes and life skills.

Swine Week’s grand total will be announced at an assembly Friday.