Students At Chautauqua Lake Provide Holiday Cheer

Several events and fundraisers at Chautauqua Lake Central School have helped provide items to the Mayville Food Pantry and money to local families in need. "The generosity and goodwill that our students have exhibited over the last month has been remarkable," said Superintendent Josh Liddell. Submitted photos

Students at Chautauqua Lake Central School have been holding food drives, volunteering at the Mayville Food Pantry, raising money for families in need and filling the halls with colorful holiday cheer.

“The generosity and goodwill that our students have exhibited over the last month has been remarkable,” said Superintendent Josh Liddell. “The spirit of giving can be seen at every grade level as our students have successfully led a variety of kindhearted and spirit filled endeavors.”

Those who enter the elementary building are greeted with a rainbow of festively decorated trees. The presents under those trees are boxes overflowing with food donations.

Students donated just over 1,100 items to the Mayville Food Pantry. “The joy on the faces of the workers matched that of our students as they placed items under their tree each morning,” said Megan Lundgren, elementary principal.

The elementary school plans to make the holiday service project an annual tradition to continue teaching students the importance of giving.

Students also created compassionate projects that have been underway for weeks. Multiple student groups coordinated with one another to donate money, food and gifts to the community. “Our students are caring members of the community who have worked together to create a brighter holiday, and through their giving have demonstrated the sort of compassion that makes our community special,” said Rachel Curtin, secondary school principal.

The school’s Rotary Interact Club hosted a fundraiser game night and donated hundreds of dollars to the food pantry. Members of the girl’s basketball program and secondary students volunteered at the pantry as well. The students helped unload the pallets of food from the WNY Food Pantry distribution services truck and then stock the shelves and refrigerators with the new items.

In addition, Chautauqua Lake’s National Honor Society created a food and gift drive. Student president Lily Woodis reported that enough donations were collected to help 21 families (50 students) have a brighter Christmas this year with toys, games and clothes.

The National Honor Society also hosted a Penny Wars competition raising over $500 for a family in need.

The Chautauqua Lake eighth-grade class participated in collecting donations for the Blue Star Mothers for their community service project this year. The Blue Star Mothers work to make the lives of local troops serving overseas a little brighter this holiday season by collecting donations for shoeboxes for military personnel serving overseas.

“We are so proud of our amazing staff, parents and students this Christmas season,” said Amy Webb, school board president and parent. “Our students have exhibited many outstanding character traits and we love that they are making a difference in our community. The holidays are a time to give and reflect on what we all have to be grateful for and I am so grateful for the kindness and compassion exhibited by our district.”

Read the article on The Post-Journal online here.