Helping Veterans Help Each Other

“When you give high school students a chance to make a difference, they do amazing things,” said Facilitator Brenda Beers of Notre Dame Preparatory in Scottsdale, Arizona. For their Do Good December project, students put the leadership principles learned from Chick-fil-A Leader Academy into action by collecting donations for MANA House, a peer-support organization of homeless and formerly homeless veterans.

Students spread the word within their school and also set up boxes around the community to collect donations.

The results were remarkable. In total, students collected 422 items along with 35 care packages. The community donated clothing, blankets, shoes, hats, scarves and more. “We were astonished with the amount of items we received and how many people decided to help,” said student Savannah Mangram. “We are so thankful for the opportunity to give back.”

Facilitator Mrs. Beers told her students that this was their project— adopting the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy principle of putting the ownership squarely in the hands of students. For her, the students’ leadership journey and successful outcome is what it’s all about. “I’m amazed by these students, but not surprised. It’s exactly what we do this for. Give them an opportunity, and they’ll show you, and themselves, what they are capable of,” she added.