BC News

BC community spreads the holiday cheer near and far
Release Date: Dec. 23, 2008

From efforts to brighten the holidays of members in the community in need to donating coats to help keep the region's homeless warm to a project that improves the employment prospects of young people in Africa, the Bethlehem Central community spread its holiday cheer far and wide this year.

BCHS Student senate coat drive

BCHS Student Senate President Mike Rice said the organization spent some time this fall discussing how it could best contribute to the community and those in need this holiday season. They settled on a coat drive, and collected about 150 coats for the region's homeless during the week before Winter Recess.

Senate representatives dropped the coat's off at the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless' Sheridan Hollow Drop-In Center in Albany on Dec. 23. The coats were part of a larger contribution from the Bethlehem community, including catered meals for Drop-In center clients from the Four Corners Luncheonette and household and personal care items from Grassroots Givers.

"We’re so thankful to be working with such a variety of community organizations. The Four Corners Luncheonette, students at Bethlehem Central High and Roberta Sandler, Grassroots Givers are amazing groups of people who are helping us take care of people who truly need our help. The wonderful service that the philanthropic youth and adults are providing is heartfelt and an inspiration for all of us. Help from our community allows us to accomplish our mission which is keeping people safe and helping them become self sufficient,” said Janine Robitaille, Executive Director of Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless. 

 

holiday food drive and adopt-a-family 

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, the Food Drive Committee distributed food baskets and gifts to over 85 families in the Bethlehem community. This is a partnership between the town and school community to support those who need some assistance during the holiday season.

BCMS Principal Sandy Morley credited this partnership and some key individuals with making the program such a success: school staff members coordinate food collection and assist in packing up cars on distribution day; Pat Fritts who coordinates our community sponsors and partners for the Adopt a Family; Pat Burkart (district retiree) who continues to assist with the on site organization each year; the Town of Bethlehem who offers us their facility at Elm Ave each year for distribution; the district's Operations and Maintenance crew who move the massive amount of boxes from the schools to the park; and our students and parents who contribute to this cause.

"Thanks to everyone for supporting this worthy cause and assisting us in helping to make this time of year a bit brighter for many," Ms. Morley said. "Our recipients were very grateful. I appreciate being able to work with everyone who gives so graciously of their time."

 

kekeli photo sale 

The work of Bethlehem's photography students will soon be benefitting young people in the African nation of Ghana who want to learn photography to improve their economic prospects.

Approximately 150 photos taken by BCHS photography students were on sale at the school in December to benefit an organization started by a BC alumnus that teaches photography to Ghanaian youth.


After graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology, BCHS Class of 1996 graduate Carrie Brown took her degree in fine art to Woe, Ghana where she became a documentary photographer in the western African nation. Upon her return to the United States, Brown founded Kekeli, a nonprofit school that teaches photo skills to Ghanaian youth so that they can make a career out of documenting weddings, funerals and other ceremonies.

All proceeds of the photography sale benefited Kekeli.

BCHS students in Joleen Roe's photography classes have gotten to know Brown over the past few years as she has occasionally substituted taught at BCHS. In addition, Roe presents the her work and the Kekeli project to students as they cover photo journalism in class.

"They have become very interested in the possibility of helping locally, as well as the potential for some day volunteering in the program in Ghana," Roe said.

Roe credited BCHS student Maddy Magin, a senior in her Porfolio Class, Art Supervisor Melanie Painter, and the Bethlehem Parents as Art Partners Group for making the event possible. 

 

 

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