HELPING OTHERS — Students, staff and community within the Indian Creek Local School District helped raise $2,000 for the United Way of Jefferson County’s Meals of Hope initiative. On hand for Thursday’s check presentation were, from left, Michele Starkey, ICHS National Honor Society co-adviser; Superintendent T.C. Chappelear; Isabelle Heisler, NHS co-adviser; Jacob Crosby, NHS presidnet; Gabriella Boyuk, NHS vice president; Amy Colantoni, Indian Creek public relations specialist; and Marci Snyder Crawford, United Way executive director; back:, Indian Creek Treasurer Adam Lewis; and Anthony Mougianis, United Way vice president. -- Contributed

WINTERSVILLE — The Indian Creek Local School District is rising to the occasion to support the United Way of Jefferson County and community members through the Meals of Hope initiative.

All four district schools conducted week-long fundraisers prior to Thanksgiving break and raised $2,000 to help supply about 4,000 dehydrated meals, or 250 meals per building, and feed people within the school community. Officials presented a check to United Way officials on Thursday at Indian Creek High School, and the day was dubbed Thankful Thursday.

Amy Colantoni, public relations specialist for the district, said United Way Executive Director Marci Snyder Crawford approached her and Superintendent T.C. Chappelear with the idea and Creek officials jumped on board. Each building conducted its own fundraiser for one week, with ICHS and Indian Creek Middle School holding Quarter Wars competitions, with the room having the highest amount receiving a prize. Students at Cross Creek Elementary held Thanksgiving-themed events each day while Hills Elementary students paid $1 to write what they were thankful for on paper turkey feathers.

“Marci came in and told us about Meals of Hope and what the United Way wanted to do,” Colantoni added. “We had all intentions of doing this (presentation) on Tuesday, which was the National Day of Giving. I’m calling today Thankful Thursday because we are thankful for the Creek community, and we’re always thankful for the United Way and the work they do every day for families in our area.”

The ICHS National Honor Society student organization took the lead in that building and organized efforts for the Quarter Wars. NHS President Jacob Crosby said the school raised nearly $470 for the effort and he was pleased with the result.

“It feels good,” he said of the outcome.

“It’s rewarding to help give back to the people who have helped us come so far,” added NHS Vice President Gabriella Boyuk.

Chappelear said the school district’s support was indicative of its mission.

“We always say Creek Cares and we mean it,” he said. “When the United Way came to us with the project, we embraced it and the community, staff and students came together to support it.”

Crawford said she was inspired to undertake the initiative after discovering an envelope with information when she began her new job during the summer. She attended a program in Boardman and said she knew she wanted to be involved.

“Our community needs this. It takes the cost of assembling meals out and the dehydrated foods come in bulk,” she continued. “They are assembled into meals which are then distributed to the community. All they need is water.”

She sought support from the United Way board of directors as well as community groups and said it has been an amazing process. Crawford said about $14,000 has been raised so far and will help bring roughly 38,000 meals to schools and community food pantries. The meals are being assembled Monday at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and she hoped to continue holding Meals of Hope collections on an annual basis. She also applauded Indian Creek for backing the program and even visited each school to thank everyone for participating.

“To me, it’s important to show kids how to stand up for their community. Indian Creek is showing up in a big way and they are showing students what it is to help people and to live united,” she said.

Anthony Mougianis, vice president of the United Way board, noted that it all comes full circle.

“We’ll be able to provide about 38,000 meals, and with the homelessness and need we see directly with the United Way, people are hungry,” Mougianis concluded. “This is our way to pay it forward and this is an example of that.”