Students Collect for Thanksgiving Baskets

ERMA – Looking to share some Thanksgiving spirit this year? The Builders Club at the Richard M. Teitelman Middle School is looking for you.
The club of seventh and eighth graders in Lower Township is collecting non-perishable food items and donations for this year’s Thanksgiving food baskets.
According to Paul Schulte, club advisor and engineering teacher at the school, “This is the first time the Builders Club has taken this on,” he said. “I proposed it to the entire club at our first meeting, and they unanimously voted to do it.”
The Builders Club has partnered with the Kiwanis Club of Cape May, and both are collecting for Thanksgiving food baskets. The club is an international student-led program providing members with opportunities to perform service, build character and develop leadership for middle and junior high school students.
Newly elected club President Robbie Sleght, an eighth-grader from North Cape May, said, “The club wants to be able to help those who are less fortunate than us” for the holidays.
“Some people don’t have a lot, so it’s nice to know that we can help others in our community,” added Anya Davids, an eighth-grader who is a member of the club.
“Some people aren’t able to celebrate Thanksgiving in the special way that it should be, so this gives us a chance to help them,” noted Elliana Morello, newly-elected vice president and a seventh-grader from North Cape May.
Schulte said the club would work with the school staff to identify families in need. About 20 families receiving weekly book bags of non-perishable foods are already on the list.
A box for items is in the lobby of the school, which is located behind Lower Cape May Regional High School, Route 9.
Donations are also being accepted to purchase items to fill out the baskets according to Schulte. All are due by Nov. 17 for delivery just before Thanksgiving.
Items needed include:
* Canned vegetables such as corn, yams, green beans, peas
* Packages of gravy
* Mashed potatoes
* Stove Top stuffing or other stuffing mixes
* Cranberry sauce
* Small pies
* Frozen turkeys may be donated as well as there are storage facilities.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.