For many in the local community as well as overseas, Santa Claus came to town in the form of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students' charitable initiatives.
In keeping with RFH tradition, student organizations took up the giving reins, encouraging their fellow students, teachers, and community members to make donations that would brighten someone's holiday season.
"Seeing our students willingly sacrifice their time and energy to put the needs of others before their own makes all of the effort worthwhile," RFH Character Education Club Co-Advisor and Freshman Guidance Counselor Jason Lippart said in a release.
A brand-new initiative, Dawgs for Dogs ... and Other Pets Too, was organized to assist the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties in its efforts to provide relief to local pet owners experiencing financial hardship.
Named for the school's bulldog mascot, Dawgs for Dogs pulled in more than 500 pounds of pet food as well as an array of supplies. These were delivered to needy pet owners via the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
FoodBank sent a letter of gratitude to the student organizations Character Education Club and Paws and Claws Club, who requested, collected, and organized the donations.
Members of the RFH Character Education Club rallied for the troops overseas though their annual Care Package Drive.
The students requested items representing the comforts of home, including snacks and toiletries, from staff, fellow students, and community members.
The collected items, enough to fill 45 large boxes, were shipped to currently deployed Marine and Navy Units for holiday delivery. This year the selected units included relatives of two RFH faculty members — Guidance Counselor Chrissy Camp and U.S. History and Spanish teacher Anna Higgins.
The Character Education Club also sponsored Game for a Cause in support of Child's Play, a network that donates video games and gaming consoles to critically ill children in over 70 hospitals worldwide.
Child's Play received a donation of over $250 thanks to the efforts of event organizer and RFH senior Matt Halfacre and all of the student participants.
The students raised funds by competing on Dec. 14 to win the title of Best Gamer at RFH, which was awarded to freshman Connor Placer.
The RFH Key Club also hit the mark this year by collecting over 2,000 food items during their annual food drive benefitting the FoodBanks of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
The homeroom class of Jonathan Pennetti, physics teacher and advisor to RFH Key Club, won this year's in-house competition by collecting the largest amount school-wide.
The RFH Character Education Club teamed up with the RFH Social Justice Club to collect and deliver toys to local families in need through Operation Sleighbells, a charitable undertaking of Family and Children's Services of Monmouth County.
"We are fortunate to have such dedicated members in our student organizations, and a wonderfully generous community that supports us in all of our charitable endeavors," Character Education Club Co-Advisor and RFH Child Study Team member Jamie Juliano said.
* Release provided by RFH
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