By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Students at the Newberry Alternative School stand with canned food they helped to collect.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_20151030_110229.jpgStudents at the Newberry Alternative School stand with canned food they helped to collect. Courtesy photo

PROSPERITY — During the month of October, the Newberry Alternative School collected 285 canned goods as part of a community service project.

Staff and students at the alternative school helped to collect cans, as well as donations from local businesses.

“Coming up on the holidays, pantries are typically low and this is a time for giving, with Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Hal White, principal at the alternative school. “It is just a good feeling to help people. It’s good to give the kids that feeling.”

White is a proponent of community service, and when he came to campus this year as the new principal of the alternative school, he wanted to change the perception of the students.

“I thought we could partner with a group and get positive win-win situations for our students,” he said. “We partnered with the Muller Center at Newberry College, who picked up the canned goods at the end of the drive.”

Currently the alternative school has 47 students and nine staff members, all of whom helped with the drive.

Wendy Pollard, guidance counselor, worked to help partner with the Muller Center and local businesses. Pollard said that two Bi-Los donated gift cards, and she purchased canned goods with those funds.

“Not only did those organizations give, but we look to give back to them, in the future, as well,” White said.

The Newberry Alternative School works on a point system, students must accumulate a certain amount of points to be considered to go back to home schools. To help encourage students to bring in cans, the school offered two points per can.

“We had one student bring in 20 cans. Because of those efforts, the student won tickets to a Newberry College football game,” White said.

White plans on continuing community service projects at the Newberry Alternative School. He said that while they teach social skills, there is no better social skills than giving back to those who need it.

“I am just proud of them. A lot of people did not think we could pull it off, but we did,” he said. “Our original goal was 500 cans. Ironically everyone thought I was crazy, but I aim high. For our small student population, to do what we did is a tremendous job.”

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.