Brentwood Students Give Thanksgiving Cheers

Prior to Thanksgiving each year, the Brentwood High School Student Council organizes a food drive called Thanksgiving Baskets to benefit struggling families in the community.

Kelly Javier, the group's adviser, said that the need for the baskets was greater than they have experienced in the ten years that the high school has been involved in the event. She also said that the Brentwood community did not fall short in responding to these needs.

"This year we had a huge turnout," Javier said. "People understand the need. With the economic crisis and people not having jobs, we've really pulled together."

For the first few years, the group collected canned goods and money for five families, Javier said. This year, the group collected for 24 families.

The group collected 1,522 cans and $420 overall, with the money going to buy $25 grocery gift cards for non-perishable items.

Seamus Doyle, a senior and student council president, said that the Thanksgiving Basket event ran from Nov. 9 to Nov. 23. The school combined two food drives this year.

"We decided to combine the canned goods we received from our October event, 'Trick or Treat For the Needy,' and this one, to really help these families," Doyle said.

"These aren't the only community service projects we do," Javier said. "We really believe in selfless giving while the kids are teenagers. The feeling they get now will have a huge impact on their future."

The next community service project that the student council will host is the Giving Tree project. The students will buy gifts for 24 families in Brentwood. The project begins on Dec. 6.