Until the end of January, MCHS’s Latin American Student Organization is holding a food drive where all donations will go towards the non-profit Youth and Family Center in McHenry.
AIM classes will compete against each other to see who can collect the most non-perishable goods. The winning AIM will be rewarded with donuts and hot chocolate. So, not only is this a small competition, but it’s for a good cause. It’s a great opportunity to give back to the community, especially for those who truly need it.
The YFC does good for the community and its families. It presents services like youth and adult programming, daycares, tutoring, school focus groups, food services and more.Although food can sometimes be scarce, that’s why the goal of the food drive is to collect as much as possible so there is no need for fights and everyone gets a fair chance for access to goods.
“This food drive is good because YFC is getting resources from people they normally don’t,” Urquizo says “and it’s also giving LASO an opportunity to go and interact with the kids and people there.”
LASO Vice President, Angelina Ruiz has seen these interactions and fights first hand during her internship at the YFC, and knew something had to be changed.
“It was always right in my view. So, I think I finally saw more people who actually needed food and struggled.” Ruiz says, “So I brought it up to LASO because I wanted us to help our community, and also wanted us to collaborate with people who have mostly Hispanic backgrounds like that.”
While LASO doesn’t exactly benefit personally from the fundraiser it’s good to help out while spreading the word of organizations such as the YFC and their own. Social Worker Otto Corzo sponsors the club, but does not interfere in any plans.
“I’m the sponsor of lasso, but really,” Corzo says, “LASO is by the students, for the students”
Almost halfway through January, some AIM classrooms have already filled up two bags of goods to be donated.
“It feels really good to be able to give back,” LASO member Daniel Palermo says, “especially to those that truly need it.”
LASO intends on further spreading the word of their organizations future events and fundraisers.
“LASO is going to continue coming into AIM classrooms and checking in on how they’re doing.” Urquizo says, “Here, and at Freshman Campus.”