Manchester’s Students Spring into Action to Support Local Code Blue Shelters in Need!
Manchester Township School District’s (MTSD) students are always eager to respond to the needs of the local community. Let it be through helping senior citizens with their technology needs, the Manchester Township High School (MTHS) Habitat for Humanity Club going out and about fixing and cleaning up community homes, the MTHS National Honor Society and Student Government Association students who are consistently raising funds and donations for local causes while also giving their time as volunteers to help support local fundraising events, the MTHS students who were recently awarded for their volunteerism with the ARC, an MTHS Girl Scout who put her own time and energy into the creation and fundraising of the MTHS Care Closet, the MTHS Key Club and Interact Clubs who just recently raised thousands of food donations to support local food pantries, and so much more. In Manchester, our students know the importance of being helpful and productive citizens, not just in their school communities but in the community at large. That is why when a local reached out to the school district about donations for the Ocean County Code Blue Shelters, our students immediately sprung into action, as they always do.
The weather over the last month has had its ups and downs, and as a result, supplies in the local Code Blue Shelters are low. A concerned citizen reached out to Manchester Township High School to see if students would be willing to collect supply donations in support of these shelters. Without hesitation, members of the MTHS Key Club and MTHS Interact Club began a fundraising campaign that swiftly resulted in boxes of supplies for donation. These donations came in from students, families, and staff members across the school district. Donations included health and hygiene supplies for adults, children, and babies, as well as warm clothing, jackets, blankets, hats, gloves, and scarves. MTHS Key Club Advisor Theresa Zacchia and Principal Adams are now working to coordinate a handoff of these supplies ahead of the next Code Blue.
Thank you to the MTSD students for your continued eagerness to help those in need. The spirit of community service is active and robust in the Manchester Schools. You are living out our school district motto, Excellence by Example, in this way every day!
When the weather drops extremely low, Code Blue goes into effect, expanding access to warm and safe locations for the homeless. There are several Code Blue locations in Ocean County, including at least two in Lakewood, one in Bayville, and one in Toms River. For more information, please visit https://theoceancountylibrary.org/code-blue and the Ocean County Department of Human Services.