As the holiday season approaches, Venice High sees the efforts of various student clubs to make life a little more joyful for everyone. This year, at least three different clubs organized Thanksgiving and Holiday Drives and collected donations for different purposes.
Animal Advocacy Club, which started this year, aimed to gather various supplies for animals in shelters this season, according to senior Shelby Weiss, the president, and sophomore Kashish Vashi, the club’s vice president.
They are collecting harnesses, leashes, and animal necessities to give to West LA Animal Shelter.
“We definitely want to bring comfort to animals through little things, like blankets and supporting shelters,” says Vashi.
In addition to the drive, they are also showing appreciation for the volunteers who dedicate time to the shelter to make sure the animals are getting the love and care they need.
WLGS Council and Latinas en Medicina are also collaborating on a toy drive.
“We both wanted to do something to help with the holiday season,” says junior Penelope Smith, the president. “We wanted to help the people who need it most.”
The clubs are currently in the process of receiving donations from Venice community members, but once all collected, the toy donations are going to Children’s Hospital LA.
“I think that holiday season is all about bringing people joy, and it’s important to support that,” says Smith.
Additionally, Care for the Unhoused Club organized a Thanksgiving Drive that collected various sanitary products and other necessities for the unhoused. In total, their efforts amounted to 200 toothbrushes, 50 toothpastes, 40 wipes, and 170 socks to donate.
“We’re hoping that we can provide shelters with materials they need to help people with less resources than we do,” says junior Banksy Chen, the club’s co-founder and co-president.
After collecting donations, they distribute them into bags and donate them to homeless shelters in Los Angeles.
“Be grateful for the situation that you are in,” Chen says in regard to the holidays. “Because you might not think you have a lot, but in regards to other people who aren’t as privileged as you, you are a very lucky individual.”
