Local Heroes
Freshman Ignites Student Movement to Help Others During the Pandemic By Jackie Schatell
U
pon realizing that people were having trouble scheduling their own vaccine appointments, Alexa Walters, a freshman at Watchung Hills Regional High School, sprang into action over night. She, along with 45 volunteer students, some from NJ high schools in Livingston, Berkeley Heights, New Providence and more, five ambassadors, six board members and one advisor launched Save Our State Stat (SOSS) and began arranging what would become 1,750 appointments statewide. “I was discussing with my family about how hard it was for some people to get appointments, and asked myself how I could help,” says Alexa. “I looked up the death rates and knew I had to do something.” She says, “It felt good to help people. I never imagined that my conversation would’ve led to such a wonderful endeavor.” Once it became apparent that attaining appointments had eased up, SOSS pivoted and began a PPE drive for Lead Charter School in
Alexa Walters, Calee Goldstein, Edrienne Hester, Elisabeth Decker, and Alexis Perez. Not pictured is Jordan Scharf.
Newark. So far, SOSS has partnered with local Boy and Girl Scout Troops to collect PPE items including unused face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and cleaning supplies. SOSS has also placed a collection box at Town Hall in Warren and is collecting supplies outside of Walgreens in Warren. June 2021
“We chose to help LEAD because it supports opportunity youth students, many of whom are in reduced circumstances and have disengaged from traditional schooling,” says Alexa, who says she is grateful to everyone at SOSS. “It feels fitting to be a group of high school students helping other high schoolers.” MyVicinityMagazine.com 9
