By Jordan Xiao
Copy Editor
Photos by Raj Jain
Future Business Leaders of America shipped its fourth annual donation campaign for Operation Walking Shield on Friday, October 24. The charity drive, which ended on Monday, October 20, collected 50 backpacks full of necessities for underprivileged Native American youths of reservations in Eureka, California and Fort Totten, North Dakota in time for the holiday season.
Donors chose specific children to “adopt” from the whiteboard of room 513, where the names and profiles of different children grades K-8 were posted. Personal information such as age and clothing sizes aided donors in collecting goods ranging from school and hygiene supplies to books and non-electronic games.
FBLA first became involved with Walking Shield in 2011, when advisor Ms Cathy Mason introduced it as a community service project in collaboration with Pierce College.
“Because FBLA is preparing students to be future business leaders, the charity aspect of business can’t be ignored,” club vice-president Isabella Sun said. “With Walking Shield, we give SPHS students a way to give back while being active club members at the same time, so it’s all-in-all a good experience.”
Walking Shield, Incorporated was founded in 1986 by a descendent of the Lakota tribe with the purpose of improving the quality of life for Native Americans around the country. In addition to providing shelter, healthcare, and community development support, the organization supplies more than 1,000 pounds of clothing to impoverished reservations every year. Following the success of this year’s drive, SPHS FBLA intends to participate in more backpack collections in future years.
