Students embrace the holiday spirit, give back to others

Leo Club assists with the annual Equinox Thanksgiving dinner

Duanesburg students help sort and pack boxes for the annual Equinox Thanksgiving dinner, which serves more than 8,000 people.

Nov. 25, 2009—Duanesburg students are embracing the true meaning of the holiday season by volunteering their time to help others.

Recently members of the middle/high school’s Leo Club visited the Empire State Plaza to help prepare for the 40th annual Equinox Thanksgiving dinner. The event serves thousands of individuals in the Capital Region who are in need, and requires the help of thousands of volunteers.

Duanesburg students included Allison Paludi, Dan Paludi, Catherine Winters, Anna Winters, Gretta Jones, Maddy Santulli, Ali Bullis, Shannon Crowley, Ryan Murphy, Montana Fisher, Alyssa Galea, Breanne Hotaling. Chaperones included parent Cathy Winters and teachers Sarah Karker and Karen Kanarkiewicz.

Students were charged with the responsibility of sorting and packing donated goods, including canned yams, pineapple, cranberry sauce, applesauce and fruit cups.

“It made me feel good to know that I was helping other people with such a successful organization as Equinox,” said Montana Fisher. “I had a lot of fun.”

They also toured the kitchen where other volunteers had already started cooking turkeys, and learned more about the incredible amount of time, resources and help needed to pull off the event successfully year after year.

Students give back year round
Leo club members believe it’s important to help others on a regular basis—not just during the holidays. The group conducts a variety of charitable activities throughout the year, from hosting blood drives to beautifying school grounds.

As part of the student in-service day in October, students volunteered at the Regional Food Bank where they helped sort and pack donated apples, cookies and crackers for delivery to local food pantries, soup kitchens and other community-based agencies.