By Loretta Rodgers
Members of the Sun Valley High School National Honor Society (NHS), in conjunction with Coebourn Elementary School students collected more than 600 pounds of canned goods which was donated to Aston Township’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors food pantry program.
“We are very grateful for everything the students have done to assist our program and help our needy residents,” said program coordinator Maggie Berry. “It is really great to see these young people bring awareness to the plight of those less fortunate. Neighbors Helping Neighbors is about our community members taking care of each other.”
The NHS organized the drive within the high school and the top three homerooms won a free breakfast. The winners included the homerooms of teachers Joseph Kochersperger, Scott Taylor and Amy Grady.
“The program ran the first two weeks of December,” said NHS President Michael Costigan. “We have been doing this for the past few years and are very grateful for he support we have received from our fellow Sun Valley students and the pupils at Coebourn Elementary School.”
Neighbors Helping Neighbors, which receives support from the Aston Business Association, operates year round and provides much needed assistance to those residents of the township who are experiencing difficulties. Canned goods, baby diapers and food, as well as other household products are donated by residents and businesses to make life easier for those in need.
In addition to Berry, Aston residents Flo Firlein, 4th ward commissioner Jon Firlein, Alma Carroll, Cindy Lopchinsky, Jim Graham and Les Berry offer assistance to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program.
“We very much appreciate the efforts of the Sun Valley High School NHS as well as Coebourn Elementary School and all those who donate to Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” said Commissioner/volunteer Jon Firlein.