Article by Amanda Hammer
It is a certain time of year here at Norfolk High. It is time for lights strung around the classrooms and Christmas trees put up in the forum. So many exciting things are happening in the month of December here in the building.
Norfolk High had its annual blood drive on December 3, 2015. Many students decided to help out by donating blood and making a difference in society this holiday season. A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and that blood is used for transfusions. A directed donation is when a person, often a family member, donates blood for transfusion to a specific person. Blood banks often participate in the collection process as well as the procedures that follow it. In today's world most of the blood donors donate for free to help in making a difference or donate with the intention on saving one's life. The students here were more than happy to make a difference in the community.
During this holiday season Norfolk High provides many special things in its building. Including Toys for Tots. Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which gives toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. Toys for Tots was founded in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks. It began in Los Angeles California because Hendricks was inspired by his wife Diane when she tried to donate a homemade Raggedy Ann doll to a child in need but could not find any organization to do so. Hendricks decided to get a bunch of Marine Reservists and gathered up some 5,000 toys for children in need. In 1991 it was authorized as a non-profit charity foundation. In 1995 the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.
This year the Norfolk Girl Scouts are doing a great thing forNorfolk. They are starting a donation here in the building and asking students and staff members to bring gloves, mittens, scarves, and hats for the many children and adults in need all over the city. So bring in all the warm accessories, students and staff members! Girl Scouts all over the country do many things in their communities to help out each and every person that they can. Many of the girls have big hearts and are always willing to help out with things that tie into the community. Helping one another is their specialty.
So this December NHS will celebrate their holiday season as they always do, with lots of cheer and holiday spirit in the building and in the classrooms. Many jolly things are continuing to happen every day at NHS which makes for a great holiday season.
See this article, as well as others, in the December issue of the Panther Newspaper!
