HHS Kids in Action for giveaway house

Havre High School students have formed a new group in an effort to help The Community Giveaway House.

HHS Kids In Action will be attending all of the high school's local events, including concerts, volleyball matches, basketball games and wrestling matches, to collect donations for the house. Bruce Finneman's construction tech class is also going to build two new bins for the drop-off area at the Giveaway House.

HHS counselor Kay Nessland said when she saw Sister Judith Meander's letter in the Havre Daily News telling the great need the Giveaway House is in, she thought it would be a perfect project for Havre High students to work on. She said it seems like kids at the school are always wanting to do things to help around the community but don't know what to do.

"We just thought, What an easy way to empower the kids to get the job done,'" she said.

Kids in Action member Jeremy Keller said he's happy to be a part of the group.

"I'm a nice guy, pretty much; I like helping people," he said. " It will help me get involved with people."

Nessland said she talked to members of the Leadership High School which she is active with, and Havre High math teacher Mary Wagner talked to some of her classes.

"We just threw it out to the kids," she said. "We just got a tremendous response."

The HHS Kids in Action will be collecting for the Giveaway House through Dec. 23, and will work for the cause again in the spring.

"Kids in Action is great thing," said participant Josh Golden. "Just trying to help the Giveaway House, and we're going to paint it in the spring. It's a great program and I'm proud to be a part of it."

Nessland said the most urgent need for the house right now is for cash. She said the house needs help for their Christmas baskets, which is why the students will collect cash donations at the events.

The group is also encouraging any other donations possible for the Giveaway House, including clothes, household items, food, furniture and virtually anything else. Donations can be dropped off at the Community Giveaway House, or contact Nessland at 265-2176 or Wagner at 265-8276, Sister Meander at St. Jude's or Ann Friesen for the Giveaway House.