Milk jugs with a new meaning

Every year, students can be seen carrying around milk jugs, collecting money. These students are members of a club called Amnesty, a volunteer club that has many charity projects throughout the year. The money collected is then donated, but the organization receiving the money this year has changed.

Students carrying milk jugs will be going around from Nov. 16-25 to collect money for the Malala Fund.

“We are going to be collecting money in milk jugs for the Malala Fund, which is a fund to educate girls in third world countries who would not have access to education otherwise,” Amnesty sponsor and English teacher Ronda Betzold said.

In past years, Amnesty has always donated to Heifer International, a foundation that buys farm animals for impoverished people in other parts of the world; however, Amnesty has decided to take a new approach this year.

“We talk about different topics of discussion every month. This month’s topic was women’s rights and rights to education. We connected this idea to the activity we were doing. We decided to raise money to go along with our discussion,” Amnesty President Haley Elder said.

Being a member of this club has helped many students recognize the need to help others and fulfill their role in the community.

“Through the determination and motivation of the entire club overall, I am driven to be the best possible person I can be and to help every single person I come across. We may be just a small group of high school students, but it simply takes a single outstretched hand to help someone in need,” Chen said.

The students who are a part of Amnesty are looking to make a small contribution to a larger cause to provide the opportunity of an education for girls and women around the globe.

“The Malala Fund is helping touch the lives of thousands of girls and if we’re able to help them in even the smallest way, then our mission is accomplished. We want to spread awareness of the education gap and help make a difference in any way we can,” Elder said.