In the weeks leading up to winter break, students and school communities across Orange County organized food drives, service projects and campus traditions to support families and spread goodwill during the holiday season.
At Marina High School in the Huntington Beach Union High School District, students led the district’s annual food drive, collecting nearly 5,900 pounds of food and logging more than 18,480 minutes of volunteer service. Marina finished first in both categories and earned two of the district’s four food drive titles, marking the campus’ fifth consecutive year as district champions.
In the Garden Grove Unified School District, Pacific High School students continued a decades-long tradition by welcoming more than 300 kindergarteners for the school’s annual Adopt-A-Child event. Pacifica seniors were paired with kindergarteners for a morning of gift-giving and holiday-themed activities after receiving wishlists and shopping for gifts. The event, held for more than 30 years, brought together students from different ages for a campuswide celebration that also featured performances by student groups.
Similar acts of generosity were reported across the country, with students organizing donation drives, volunteering time and participating in activities designed to support peers and community members.
Below are examples of how school districts shared these efforts with their communities on Instagram.