Joshua is a very small, very connected community. Individuals all around find ways to be extra proactive and help out. Teenage students are some of those determined individuals. The school has many student groups, including NJROTC, NHS, and Student Council. These clubs take the initiative and discover new ways to assist Joshua for the better.
NJROTC
NJROTC is filled with so many altruistic people who are always looking to make a difference. By volunteering with different tasks, they help benefit Joshua in numerous ways. This ranges from cleaning up trash around town, making others smile, and providing people with clean clothes.
“In NJROTC we do a bunch of different things to help around the community,” junior Rose Brown said. “We participate in Adopt-A-Highway, High-Five Friday, and host a clothing donation room for people in need.”
The majority of the school is unaware that ROTC cares for the highway. Members of ROTC do cleanups on a section of Highway 174, which they share with Student Council. The cleanup consists of picking up litter and discarding it in an environmentally friendly way. It’s 100% voluntary, and yet these individuals choose to take their time to help improve Joshua.
“I enjoy doing the highway cleanups on 174,” Brown said. “It makes me feel incredibly helpful towards the Joshua community, and it’s such a nice feeling to know that I’m doing something to benefit others.”
When cleaning out closets, people often find lots of clothes that they haven’t worn in a while. A great way to put those old clothes to good use is at ROTC’s clothing donation room. Donating gives individuals in Joshua an opportunity to access clean clothes. Not only does contributing help others, but it also has a positive economic impact. Donating prevents the wasting of old clothes and puts them in the hands of those in need.
“I think that the clothing donation room is an amazing way to get rid of unwanted clothes and contribute them to a good cause,” Brown said. “I, as well as other cadets, am always ready to help out our city and make it the best place it can be.”
Student Council
The Student Council (StuCo) is well known for helping out around our school. StuCo provides many services for Joshua, as well as the school. They are most well known for their snack line at lunch, however, there are many other ways they support the people of Joshua.
“We have several activities,” senior Emma Fleck said. “One thing we have is a Care Closet to-go, which has basic items like toothbrushes, nail clippers, and deodorant for people to grab whenever they might need it. We also help out with ‘Operation Christmas Child’ which is when we make boxes with toys and different things that children might need around Christmas.”
Operation Christmas Child was first started in 1993 by the Samaritans Purse organization. Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts filled with toys, hygiene products, and school supplies, and then distributes them to children in need around the world. Student Council decided to partner with this association to share the love and joy towards children who may be less fortunate.
“I always feel better after helping out,” Fleck said. “I think I feel this way because there’s just something about
serving others that changes your heart for the better. I have a big heart and I will always want to give back and help others in the community.”
Shoes for Kids is another Student Council-run activity that has been active since 1999. During this service, student council members will take students from the elementary schools in our district and buy them shoes of their choice. To raise funds for this event, our school hosts the Staff vs. Student Volleyball Tournament. Furthermore, Shoe Dept. and Dominoes give discounts on shoes and pizza, to help subsidize some of the expenses.
“I think Shoes for Kids impacts the community by showing that we do care and we do want to help,” Fleck said. “It also helps the kids see that they play an important part in our community and that they are known. I feel like this is extremely important because if they feel like they have a community that supports them then it’ll be easier for them to go through hardships.”
Student Council cares deeply about the well-being of our school, as well as the city of Joshua. StuCo members are very proactive in looking for ways to ameliorate our town and have a whole group dedicated to making our city greater.
“We have a whole committee for community service,” Fleck said. “This group of students is always trying to find a way to give back to Joshua and make it better.”
NHS
The National Honor Society (NHS) is a group for exceptional students. NHS is a student-run organization that teaches students the four pillars of the National Honor Society: scholarship, service, leadership and character. This organization enlightens students on how to be more involved in their community by participating in community service projects.
“We do all sorts of activities to help our community,” senior Folu Olajide said. “Last year we [hosted] trash bashes to help pick up on 174, but we’re always ready to help out at fall festivals, churches, and anything else our community might need.”
Another service that NHS does is called the Angel Tree. The Angel Tree is a program where families in need can put out a wish list for their children if they are unable to buy them gifts for Christmas. The Salvation Army established the Angel Tree in 1979 and has been providing children with clothes and toys ever since.
“Last year we had around 10 or more kids to donate to,” senior Gianna Leon said. “It was inspiring knowing that we were able to help these children by getting them presents and other things that they wanted. The Angel Tree is honestly an amazing program that allows us to give back to the community and help those families in need.”
Not only does National Honor Society help with the Angel tree, but they also volunteer at North Joshua’s Fall Festival. NHS members assist with the fall festival in many different ways, such as face painting, spray-dying kids’ hair, helping with the booths, cleaning up, and taking tickets.
“I love having the opportunity to help our community,” Leon said. “Helping out your community is so important because at the end of the day, this is where your friends and family live, and you want to make sure that it’s a safe environment for them”