Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Essex, Missouri – Today was Class and Club Meeting Day at Richland High School and as the holiday season inches closer, the local clubs and organizations have been discussing different charitable community projects that they would like to participate in.
Currently, the Richland High School Beta Club is preparing for their annual Missouri State Beta Convention held in Branson, Missouri. They have been holding different fundraisers such as selling Java Joe’s Coffee and other warm beverages and participating in their annual magazine selling fundraiser.
Now that the beginning of the year fundraisers are over, the Richland Betas are focusing more on their service projects. Service projects and helping others is the core of Beta. The club’s motto is “Lead by serving others” and each member takes that to heart.
During this busy holiday season, the Richland Betas decided to raise money and help donate to Wreaths Across America, an organization that provides wreaths on the graves of fallen American soldiers during the winter months. Although the organization is nationwide, Richland’s donations will go to the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. The Betas are currently raising money by participating in the Penny Wars. The class that has the most positive points will receive a pizza party and one class from both the high school and elementary school will be chosen for this. To stop the other classes from gaining more positive points, students can drop dollar bills or silver coins into the buckets, which count as negative points while dropping pennies will count as positives. Currently, the seventh grade is in first place for the high school with the freshmen in second place.
The Beta Club’s goal for this year’s Wreaths Across America fundraiser is to be able to help purchase at least fifteen wreaths. The Penny Wars will end next Friday, November 22nd. So, make sure to bring your pennies, Rebels!
During the monthly Beta meeting today, the art room was full of Christmas cards and Christmas card makers. The Betas recently decided that as another winter service project, they would be creating Christmas cards to send to soldiers that will unfortunately not be home for the holidays. The organization Holiday Mail for Heroes works through the Red Cross to provide servicemen and women Christmas cards. The Betas had fun using scrapbook stickers, cut outs, stamps, and designing their own cards to send to the soldiers.
The next Beta Club activity will take place on the last day of school before Thanksgiving Break (Tuesday, November 26th). The Betas will be hosting a Leadership Convention in the gymnasium, which will be open for all students to attend.
