The holiday season provides another opportunity for the faculty, staff, and community of the West Jefferson Hills School District to help those in need. And that help began last month at Thanksgiving.

The help begins with a call for referrals of families who may need assistance during the holiday season. The anonymous online form resulted in 55 families being referred to the organizers. The staff and community then went to work. More than $2,200 was donated online and other gift cards and gifts were purchased by current and retired staff members and collected through the PTA organizations in schools throughout the district. 

In November, the holiday donation drive provided 12 families with a full Thanksgiving meal. The Thomas Jefferson High School class officers worked leading up to Thanksgiving to sort and prepare the meal donations. Some of those families along with dozens more will receive gift cards or gifts just in time for the holiday in December.

The Holiday Help campaign is one way the district’s schools work together to demonstrate the core values of respect and empathy. And the West Jefferson Hills staff hopes the help provided brightens the holiday season of our Jaguar families.