Beaver Area High School is preparing to hold its fifth annual Day of Giving November 26, continuing a tradition that began in 2019.

What started as a small idea has grown into one of the school’s most meaningful community service events.

According to teacher and sponsor Mrs. Heather Bixler, the original purpose behind the Day of Giving was to create a moment when students could focus on helping others instead of themselves.

“I hope students enjoy themselves. I want them to know we are not here to make ourselves happy but to try to help others and the Day of Giving doesn’t just have to be a Thanksgiving event,” she shared.

The event takes months of preparation including surveys sent to students in October so they can choose which activities they want to participate in.

“[Assistant Principal] Dr. Murphy was helping with some of [the planning] this year. It was decided that this project was getting too big for one club to do, so the administration took over parts of it. But once Dr. Murphy left [to become assistant principal at Dutch Ridge] we took it back, so there was an initial round of sign-ups, but more recently I sent out another sign-up,” explained Mrs. Bixler.

This year’s Day of Giving will look similar to last year’s—with one key change.

“The middle school and the high school will not be intertwined this year, and so for example, the middle school will be making ornaments this year but the high school will not be part of that, but we will still be doing most activities but we are short a little bit,” said Mrs. Bixler.

Students will take part in several service projects, including making cards for children’s hospitals, assembling hygiene bags, sorting the care closet at the adoption center, making candygrams for local veterans, and participating in volunteer activities led by the music students.

These projects help support local organizations and individuals in the community.

The charities and organizations chosen each year depend on community needs and which projects teachers believe will have the greatest impact.

Mrs. Bixler hopes students leave the event with something deeper than just a break from class.

As November 26 approaches, Beaver Area High School looks forward to another Day of Giving that gives back to the community and encourages students to make a difference.