Students Form Club to Show Chatham Cares

Forty Chatham High School students have joined a new club that gives students a chance to volunteer and give back to the community.

The club, Chatham Cares, started this year and is led by students Corbin Berry, Jacob Eig, Quentin Murray and Michael Nunn. The idea originated with Murray, a sophomore who coordinates Hillside Community Food Bank service trips offered through Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham.

Murray recruited three friends to help lead the club.

According to a "November Chatham High School Student Spotlight" provided by the school, Murray and Nunn, his partner in organizing the service trips ,realized they could bring more helping hands:

“On a recent trip to the Food Bank in September, the workers were telling me how grateful they all were that we gave up our time to help them pack lunches for needy children, and that the more volunteers they got, the better," Murray said. "So, along with my partner for organizing these trips through the church, Michael Nunn, we thought of allowing students at CHS to experience volunteering and giving back to their community, and giving the food bank many more volunteers.”

The news release says Chatham High School fosters this sort of creative spirit, and students who have an idea for a club only need to find a staff advisor.

Laura Wengel, an English teacher in her first year at the school, was eager to step up.

Wengel hopes to help the students organize Habitat for Humanity work before winter break and get the group to a food pantry or soup kitchen before Thanksgiving. Other ideas from students include a cancer walk and a project about autism awareness.

“The energy of the students is great," Wengel said.

The club is designed to fit the busy schedules of Chatham High School students.

Chatham Cares gives students a way to participate in a volunteer organization without needing to accumulate a minimum of hours or points to be considered a member. Members are expected to make an effort to attend the majority of meetings and attend at least two to three service trips.

In October, the club organized a fund drive called “Pink Out” to donate to the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Research Fund, and raised $250.  This month, Chatham Cares is organizing a food collection for the Community Food Bank in Morristown.