Moore Love

A community’s love and care sometimes have a special way of coming together. With Moore Public Schools, it happens on an annual basis through the Moore Love fundraising campaign.

The program is a philanthropic initiative held each February in support of student-selected nonprofits that directly benefit children and their families in the Moore Public Schools district.

Now in its fifth year, Moore Love serves the broader community through fundraising efforts that dedicate 100% of the total collected to the designated agencies. This year’s recipients are the Regional Food Bank, The Sharing Tree, that offers a dignified shopping experience for furniture and household items, and Moore Public Schools Foundation’s Bridges Project, which helps teens with housing insecurity.

Last year’s campaign, which benefited Regional Food Bank and Moore Firefighters Santa Express, raised more than $200,000. All funds raised, 100% of dollars collected, are donated.

“The Moore Love campaign is important in our community because it is instrumental to our city, its citizens and our students,” said Assistant Fire Marshal Darren Sigmen.

Through the Santa Express, Moore Firefighters oversee other needs like coats, mattresses, bedding furniture, not just Christmas time but throughout the school year. Moore Love donated $130,000 to the Santa Express efforts last year.

Moore Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines started the challenge during the 2017 school

year. Students from all three Moore high schools form leadership teams to take on the task of organizing the campaign, planning activities and overseeing the district-wide process with the help of faculty and staff.

Currently, statistics indicate that 51% of the approximately 25,000 students enrolled in Moore Public Schools qualify for free and reduced lunch. Additionally, 38 students have been identified this year as individuals experiencing homelessness.

“Moore Love was, in part, born out of the Regional Food Bank’s Backpack Program, which is 650 or so kids on Fridays who go to the front office at our 35 school sites to have food items to maintain or sustain them over the weekend. We wanted to take care of our own, so outside agencies wouldn’t have to fund that,” said Dr. Romines. “Every nonprofit chosen is something our student population and their families may have a need to access at some point. This is our way of giving back.”

The goal each year is to double the previous year’s amount donated: $400,000 is the total students are hoping to raise through a variety of fundraisers, corporate donors and local goodwill.

“It has just grown by leaps and bounds. I am continually amazed by what our students can put together each year and the successes they inspire in the community,” Romines said. “Applications are given to nonprofits each year, then students have the hard task of choosing which will receive funding.”

Some schools, classes and individual students have already been hard at work since the beginning of the academic year. An outlet for creative ideas, persuasive pitches and business acumen, participants also benefit in new and unexpected ways.

“The big push is in February. Our Moore Love chairs and leadership classes will have visited their feeder

school sites to have conversations with the younger students about what they’re raising funds for and why,” said Dr. Romines. “It’s a friendly competition across the three high schools. Every single student across this district realizes the importance of participating in the community and the value of coming together for the common good.”

Snack cart days, kickball and volleyball tournaments, dress-up days, movie nights and other fun activities also help see teachers and staff in a different light, Dr. Romines suggested, which can help build relationships.

“This is my first year on Moore High Schools’ council for Moore Love and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I knew that I wanted to make a positive impact to those within my community,” said Natalie Ochoa, Moore High School junior and Moore Love council member. “Being a part of the MHS Moore Love council is a huge responsibility that comes with many challenges.

“While some days are more stressful than others, I know that all of our Moore Love efforts will benefit good causes. I enjoy knowing that even as a high school student I am helping to give back to my community.”

Skills gained can benefit students for life.

“When we have students who graduate from high school and choose the college track or a trade, we’re hearing they have learned philanthropic value,” said Dr. Romines. “They’ve learned to be persuasive and work hard while teaching kids to give. Students are getting out and working to raise funds, facing businesses big and small. They’re doing all of this on their own. It’s a big deal for a 17- or 18-year-old to sit in front of a hotel chain executive team and tell them why they should contribute to this community cause.”

The community is invited to find out more and donate at mooreschools.com/moorelove.–19SM