Hamburg Area High School student-athletes collected and donated two shopping carts worth of canned goods and non-perishable food items tot he Nothern Berks Food Pantry.
L.I.S.A (Leadership In Student Athletes) collected the items at high school athletic events on Dec. 18, 19 and 21. The group, which is made up of student-athletes who model the six pillars of character, has been collecting canned good annually for the Northern Berks Food Pantry since 2006, according to Aaron Menapace, Hamburg Area School District athletic director.
It was not only the hometown fans at the sporting events that brought items to donate, but opposing teams as well.
‘The night we wrestled Wyomissing, their team brought a box to add to the collection,’ said Menapace. ‘Kudos Wyomissing wrestling! Their coach Frank Ferrendino is as high class individual as there is coaching.’
Menapace also commented that the amount of people who came to the sporting events and donated was nice to see.
Ashtyn Epting and Andrea Capitella, members of L.I.S.A, are pictured with the carts full of donated items and delivered those carts from the high school to the middle school for the food pantry.
‘those girls in freezing temps wheeled the carts to the middle school food pantry,’ said Menapace.
L.I.S.A. is a standalone group at Hamburg Area High School comprised of student-athletes who model trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Any student-athlete can join the school group as long as they exemplify the six pillars of character in daily life.
The canned goods and non-perishable food donation was a success for the group and aiding in reinforcing some of the characteristics needed to be a part of the group.
‘That is one way we’re teaching citizenship, caring and responsibility through the L.I.S.A. program,’ explained Menapace.
The next event for L.I.S.A is a celebration of READ ACROSS AMERICA week. About 50 student-athletes will travel to Tilden Elementary on March 3 to advocate reading as a worthwhile activity.
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