News

EASTERN HS STUDENTS HELP ANNA SAMPLE FAMILIES

A diverse crowd of more than 200 students, teachers, family and friends gathered at Eastern High School in Voorhees NJ on December 9 to benefit Volunteers of America Delaware Valley.

The second annual dinner sponsored by the school’s African American Cultural Club featured a magnificent, multi-cultural array of home-cooked foods, and soulful tunes by   professional jazz musicians Anthony Mohamed and Greg Morrison. The event raised money for the Anna Sample Complex in Camden, NJ, which provides emergency shelter and other services for women and families. The club also will provide holiday gifts for mothers and children at the facility.

“We are incredibly grateful to the African American Cultural Club, and everyone in the Eastern High School community,” said Monique Reddick, social services coordinator at Anna Sample. “This is a great event and we’re honored that the club and the school would select us to be the recipient of their generosity.”

Club members and others talked about the importance of the commitment.

“We’re privileged here in Voorhees, and other people need help,” said Callie Ward, a freshman at Eastern.

“We’re raising money for women who are having difficult times,” said Jaylen Barker, a sophomore who recently joined the club. “We’re helping raise money so their kids will have a good Christmas.”

Brenda Brooks teaches US and world history teacher at the school and is the adviser to the club, which has about 25 active members. “The students really enjoy getting the Christmas gifts for the children, and this year we’re getting something for the mothers as well,” said Brooks, who lives not far from the Anna Sample facility.

Senior class member Candace Hockett-Henley, is president of the club. “It’s an important event because it’s the holidays, and I feel as if I have been called to serve, to give my time and energy and effort to support a good cause,” she said. “It’s also a way to get different cultures together, and a way to have donations from places around town, to get them involved as well. It’s a whole community thing.”

Antonia Curovost, a senior, was the organizer of the event. Musunga Mulengah also helped make it possible.

“I consider myself very blessed, and I think it’s really important that when you’re blessed, you share your gifts and your talents with others,” Musunga said. “When we brought the gifts to the shelters last year, it brought a lot of joy. We were making somebody happy.”

Antonia said, “I’ve a very blessed individual, and it’s always important to give back especially to the less fortunate. The Anna Sample house is a wonderful organization and it seems like a really great thing to know that an event like this which brings families together is helping other families.”

Dr. Harold Melleby Jr., superintendent of the school district, enjoyed the meal as well as the program.  “I’m impressed with the time and the effort to put on this event, and the fact that it benefits such a worthy cause,” he said.