WHS Students Holding Shoe Drive for Neighbors in Need

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield High School Community Service Club is holding a shoe drive for Jo-Anne’s Closet, in coordination with the Crescent Ave Presbyterian Church in Plainfield, which serves unhoused and needy families and individuals.From May 11 through May 15, you can drop off donations in bins outside the school.“We are hoping for new or lightly used shoes of all sizes and genders. We hope that they will be dropped off in bags, so we can sort them easily,” said Zorana Culjak, a math teacher at WHS who serves as the club’s adviser.“We chose this project because, as a club, we are always looking for meaningful ways to support our community,” Culjak said. “Throughout the year, we try to respond to different needs as they arise, whether that is organizing a coat drive in the fall or a socks drive in the winter. When we hear that someone could use extra help or support, we do our best to step in and make a difference. At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: In a world where we can be anything, we choose to be kind.”The club has more than 100 active members. Every other Tuesday, they meet after school, when one of their regular activities includes packing extra lunches to be donated to the Salvation Army in Plainfield, and they plan projects like their upcoming drive.This year, the club is proud to have completed many meaningful projects, and it was especially rewarding to have local organizations reach out to them for support, Culjak said“It showed us that our efforts are making a real impact in the community. We are also incredibly grateful to the Westfield Education Association for their generous grants, which helped make many of these projects possible. Their support allowed us to expand our efforts and reach even more people in need,” Culjak added.