Emery High raises money for Veterans hospital

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This year the Emery High Student Council decided to move their food drive to January/February to try to build the Emery County Food Bank reserves when they begin to run low. So, for the month of November, they decided to support Utah’s veterans. Madelyn Carter, who is the American Legion Junior Auxiliary President for the State of Utah and a student at Emery High, brought a proposal to the EHS Student Council.
Madelyn had contacted the Veteran’s Hospital in Salt Lake City and asked what their greatest needs were. She found out that, though the veterans medical needs are being met, many of them don’t have a clean pair of socks or other clean clothing. This is particularly true of homeless veterans who come to the hospital. The VA said that they could use new socks and sweats for the veterans at the hospital. Madelyn came asking the EHS Student Council if they could have a fundraiser to buy socks and sweats.
The Student Council decided that a teacher-versus-a-student challenge would be a fun way to raise money. So several challenges were made. Mr. Hansen challenged Ridge Nielson and the one that raised the least amount of money had to dye his hair blonde. Shanae Butler and Kevin Butler, her nephew, had a pie challenge, where the winner got to put a pie in the face of the loser. Eric Mortensen challenged Kayden Parkins, student body president, to a kiss-a-pig challenge. Lee Moss challenged Matt Mecham to a contest where the high-money-raiser got to dress the low-money-raiser in any clothing and make up he chose, for a day. In the end, Mr. Hansen and Ridge had to dye their hair because they raised a total of $200, Shanae put a pie in Kevin’s face, Kayden kissed a pig and Lee Moss made Matt dress like “Wolverine” for the day.
This effort to raise money was kicked off on Veterans Day at an assembly to honor our veterans. The assembly featured the chorus singing the Star Spangled Banner, the band playing a few patriotic numbers, and a slide show tribute to the 31 active duty service men and women presently serving from Emery High School. Then Madelyn presented a moving video about honoring and respecting veterans and finally the Student Council introduced the fund raiser. The fund raiser went from November 11 to November 26.
On November 26th a second assembly was held, this time to finish off the fund raising.
The pig-kissing, pie-throwing, hair-dying all took place and then a service auction was held to raise even more money. The Student Council auctioned off rides to class, body guards for a day, getting to tell a joke over the intercom for a week, and many more fun and crazy service items. All together Emery High raised just under $1,600.
On December 18, seven Emery High students and their advisor, Neal Peacock used the money to purchase 106 pair of new sweats (tops and pants) and 144 pair of new socks and took them to the VA hospital in Salt Lake City and gave them to the hospital to use for veterans in need.
The Emery High Student Council also gave a dozen Emery High T-shirts to the hospital for their staff and patients. It was a great experience for all involved. Emery High supports its veterans and Emery High students are grateful to all those who serve.