Elementary Schools Collect for the Needy

The Just Say No Club at Diggs Elementary School recently organized a school-wide New Toy Drive to benefit families in need. The students collected more than 1,100 new toys, which were donated to the Charles County Children’s Aid Society. Students also donated canned goods.

Students at Mitchell Elementary School recently participated in a Giving Tree toy and gift drive to benefit Mitchell families in need. Students decorated the tree with lights and gloves and donated gifts such as books, dolls, scarves and other toys. Mitchell has hosted the annual drive for more than 20 years. This year’s event was organized by Monica Tummino, a guidance counselor at Mitchell.

Matula Elementary School students collected more than 890 pounds of food for its recent Harvest for the Hungry campaign, enough to donate Thanksgiving dinners to about 55 families through the Southern Maryland Food Bank. Regina Williams, teacher, and Katheryne West, instructional assistant, coordinated the school’s second year in the campaign. The La Plata Food Lion donated dessert pies to the campaign.

Diggs Elementary 4th graders (back) Paul Morrissey,
Olivia Hoy, Hannah Marshall, Jacob Steele, Sydney
Gates, (front) Caitlyn Murphy and Audacious Douglas.
Diggs students collected more than 1,100 new toys
for the “New Toy Drive.”

Mitchell 5th grade student DaCarlo Lyles,
1st grade student Zachary Shingleton and
5th grade student Catherine Shingleton.

Calvert Chamber of Commerce Donates to Scholarships

During the Calvert Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event Dec. 13, chamber members presented representatives of the College of Southern Maryland with a $1,275 donation to support student scholarships. This year’s donation came from proceeds from the Calvert Chamber’s 12th Annual “Night on the Patuxent Cruise.”

Matula kindergarteners Christopher Lucykanish
and Samara Shields help collect food during the
school’s Harvest for the Hungry campaign.		 (back) Larry Weckbaugh (Constellation Energy
Group), CSM Director of Administrative Services
Gladys Jones, Brian Bucci (PNC Bank), CSM
Foundation Director Claire Tweedie, James Ward
(Poor Richard Web Press), Tommy Godbold (The
Accessory Zone).  (front) CSM Vice President and
Prince Frederick Campus Dean Charlene Newkirk,
Calvert Chamber President Carolyn McHugh, CSM
President Dr. Bradley Gottfried and CSM Vice Chair
MacArthur Jones.