Edith Wagar Middle School, Turkey Gobbler
Edith Wagar Middle School, Carleton, MI
Project: Turkey Gobbler
Adviser: Judi Pershing
Over the years, Edith Wagar Middle School's National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) has been focused on bettering their community. With a slowing in the auto industry and an economy in recession, they are trying to make a difference in the lives of local families that have been hit hard as a result. With the support of the local church and the school’s Community Education program, Wagar's Turkey Gobbler contest was designed to help families in the area put a Thanksgiving feast on the table.
A committee of NJHS members created the guidelines, designed and created the turkeys, and distributed the "Gobbler Packets." After meeting with Community Education Director Kim Weeg, they set a fundraising goal of $500. NJHS member Kennedy Horn's turkey design was selected by the committee. The committee then met in the library to create 40 featherless turkeys and cut out 1,000 turkey feathers. Gobbler Packets were assembled, along with the rules and guidelines for the contest. Each teacher would receive a featherless turkey to be displayed in their classroom and one gobble packet, complete with feathers, rules and $2 in change. The rules stated that for every 4 feathers a student purchased, they would receive a ticket for one of 3 gift cards that would be drawn daily.
Beginning on November 16, teachers were able to sell a paper feather for 25 cents. The students could then place the turkey feather on their favorite teacher’s turkey throughout the day. At the end of the day, members had to collect packets and redistribute them the next morning with additional feathers. During 6th hour, the treasurer counted the money, rolled the quarters and reported the standings. Ashley Epoch and Nicole Sprinkles wrote daily announcements to keep the contest exciting. Teachers' turkeys grew bigger and bigger and some even totally encased their door. At the end of the week, the chapter raised $1,013!
The final step was to contact a local grocery store and make arrangements to purchase groceries for each of the families in need. The five NJHS officers had enough money to purchase bread, cereal and much more for each family, including Thanksgiving dinner meals. The items were taken to Carleton United Methodist Church where it was sorted by the members. School policy prevented the members from being able to deliver the baskets of food, so teachers, members of the church, and friends spent about a half hour each delivering them. As a result of the hard work and giving spirit of the members of Wagar's NJHS chapter and the student body, fifty-four families had a great Thanksgiving!
Adviser Judy Pershing congratulated all of the members during their December meeting. The fact that they brightened up 54 families' holiday made them realize they could do anything if they put their minds to it. Mrs. Pershing suggested that the members put this project on their permanent list for the future because of the success.