Last week, the Highland Park Community Service Council (CSC) organized “Operation Gratitude,” a project where students assemble care packages filled with snacks, hygiene products, and handwritten letters for military personnel serving overseas.
“This is probably the best event we’ve hosted so far because we had the best turnout,” Community Service Council sponsor and transition specialist Tyson Peterson said.
Each month, CSC organizes a new community service project. These projects create many opportunities for students to get involved and gain service hours toward their graduation requirement.
“I really enjoyed the event,” sophomore Caitlyn Liu said. “It was organized super well, and everything was run really efficiently.”
The CSC, led by Mila Segal, senior and president of the organization, carries out various community service projects throughout the year with funding from organizations such as La Fiesta, the PTA, and back-to-school sign-ups. These contributions support events like hygiene drives, winter clothing drives, and snack pack drives.
“We receive a lot of money from different organizations, or different parent groups and stuff to do these kinds of events. So, we try to find different things each year,” Peterson explained.
The care package assembly event is a recurring CSC activity aimed at providing troops with essential items. The packages contain hygiene products, snacks, and other necessities. Students also write heartfelt letters to express their gratitude.
“I think Mila has written letters to these troops before,” senior and project co host Sophia McGee said. “She thought it could be a good idea for the club.”
Most students discovered this community service opportunity through the Community Service website, which regularly updates its list of upcoming events. Flyers are also posted around Highland Park High School to encourage participation.
“The community service opportunity document is available on the high school website. It lists whenever there’s an event that you can go to,” Liu said.
For some students, CSC participation starts as a way to fulfill community service hour requirements but often leads to continued involvement.
“I just needed service hours, and I saw this on the service opportunities document. But I stayed because I enjoyed it, and I feel like it was helping people,” Liu said.
CSC also provides students with leadership experience and opportunities to collaborate with others.
“I’ve learned to be a good organizer and to maybe have responsibility over others, making sure that they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing and having all their community service hours. And I’ve also built a lot of friendships in this,” McGee said.
CSC continues to offer students a way to engage in service projects throughout the year. Operation Gratitude is one of many initiatives that allow students to make a tangible impact. Other projects include food drives, clothing donations, and fundraising events to support different causes.
“We try to make sure there’s a variety of opportunities so everyone can find something they connect with,” said McGee. “It’s rewarding to see students come together for a good cause.”
