STRAWBERRY- The Hillcrest High School Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) recently completed their Second Annual Paper Drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis and event organizers have announced that this year the school district, which is located in Strawberry, Arkansas, collected a record setting 3,800 toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues for the families who stay as guests at the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis.
Hillcrest students and community members were asked by the FBLA to donate packaged rolls of toilet paper, paper towels, or boxed tissues for the two-week drive. In order to stimulate the effort, FBLA members created a contest that placed classroom teachers in a race to see which class could collect the most product, with the prize being a “free day” for the winning class. Addison Brannon, Hillcrest High School’s FBLA sponsor and business instructor, said that the competition was moving steadily until the race moved toward a finale.
“On the final day,” Brannon commented, “We began with an impressive donation of 800 rolls.” She added, “Thanks to teacher support and friendly competition we finished that (last) day with over 3,520 rolls of paper products.” Hillcrest Science teacher Tyler Roby’s class emerged as the overall winners, but Brannon indicated that it was really a community wide labor, with submissions by Hillcrest Elementary students and others bringing the total transported to Memphis to 3,800.
Sophomore Maddie Doyle summarized the drive by stating, “Without such a caring community FBLA would not be able to donate so much to this amazing organization.”
“I think that it is a great cause to support and I’m glad I got the chance to contribute,” indicated Brylee Doyle, another sophomore member.
The Ronald McDonald House of Memphis provides free housing, meals, and other necessities to children (and their families) who are receiving cancer treatments at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. According to the Ronald McDonald House Charities website, provides a home for 316 families and children annually. Donations and volunteer efforts help the house, which was at full occupancy 86% of 2018 and the actual cost of operating each room per night is $145.
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