Kenowa Hills — Junior Brennan Pete said he learned the importance of giving from his grandmother.
“My grandma is a woman of God,” he said. “She taught me it really doesn’t take much to be a good person.”
Brennan recalled getting together with his family during the holiday season and packing hygiene items and non-perishable snacks in bags to keep in their cars to give to people struggling with homelessness in the community.
“There is no singular definition of homelessness, so don’t judge every single person living on the street or in a shelter,” he said. “People stereotype homeless people but there are people that go to my school that could use a bag.”
Based on his family’s tradition and the spirit of the season, Brennan decided to speak with his principal at Kenowa Hills High School about starting a charity club to share the love and provide hope.
“We started the ‘Hope in a Bag’ club to give people something that actually helps,” he said. “Every human needs socks and soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, gloves and sanitary products.”
Since approaching principal Nate Robrahn two months ago about starting the club, Brennan said almost 60 students signed up and around 40 attended the first meeting to pack bags. The students packed 250 bags at their first meeting and 300 bags at their December meeting.
The club members then take turns making bag deliveries to local organizations that support individuals struggling with varying degrees of homelessness.
“I want to make 1,000 bags by the end of the school year,” Brennan said.
‘It’s not about us’
As the club’s president, Brennan works between meetings, counting and organizing inventory, connecting with local businesses to get donations and spreading the word around his school and greater community about their efforts.
So far, the club has raised $650 in donations to purchase items to fill bags. Brennan credits their success to having a “trusted team” of his peers coming together to help others.
“Honestly, I think my favorite part is seeing the amount of people who actually want to help. We started this whole thing to help people, It’s not about (us;) it’s about (our) initiative.”
Brennan added: “We’re trying to reach as many people as possible, but I can’t do that without donations and funding.”
He said he hopes hearing about “Hope in a Bag” will encourage businesses to donate to their efforts and inspire other students to start charity-based clubs at their own schools.
“It’s a lot of stuff to think about, so you have to have the passion for it,” Brennan said. “Take it slow; even if you’re making a small impact, you’re making an impact … help as many people as you can and when you can do that, try and give them more.”
Donations for Hope
The club is collecting: toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap bars, tissues, hand sanitizer, feminine products, body wipes, socks, deodorant wipes, hand warmers and gallon bags.
Some snacks accepted in bulk include: pretzels, fruit snacks, trail mix, granola bars and cheese crackers.
Other appreciated new or gently used items include: blankets, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, coats and pants/sweatpants.
Donations can be mailed or dropped off at Kenowa Hills High School, 3825 Hendershot Avenue NW, and labeled for “Hope in a Bag.” Checks can be made out to “Kenowa Hills Public Schools.”
Items may also be purchased off the club’s Amazon Wish List.
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