ICTC SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE

(December 7, 2007) . . .  December is a very busy month at the Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC). The holiday season is here and it’s the most popular time of year for being generous. ICTC students are busy providing community services through the Student Government Association ( SGA), The Key Club, and the Interact Programs. SGA is coordinating the Penny Wars, The Key Club is selling lollipops and will hold a Santa’s Adventure. Last, the Interact Club is involved with the Salvation ArmyChristmas Kettle Campaign and Toys for Tots.

December is the time for the Penny Wars at the Indiana County Technology Center. The kick off of this event began on December 7 th. The Penny Wars is a friendly competition between all the program areas. All the program areas collect pennies and try to collect the most and beat out the other programs. Every year different strategies are used in winning the Penny Wars. Some program areas wait until the last day and then officially add the pennies to the program collective, therefore outwitting the other programs into thinking they had no pennies to give.

This fun and friendly competition enables the students and instructors to help raise money. The program areas with the most pennies, wins. However, there are ways to catch up if your behind in pennies, you can put silver into other program areas cans. The silver will subtract from their total pennies. Benefits from the Penny Wars go to the Teddy Bear Fund Drive. The proceeds go to help provide medical treatments to pediatric patients at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, and to the Indiana Regional Medical Center.

“Penny wars are an exciting time at the ICTC because our students have the opportunity to give to the children of Indiana County, ” stated Ms. Erin Eisenman, ICTC Guidance Counselor. The Penny Wars will conclude on December 14 th. SGA, and their advisor, Chef Bob Piccirillo, appreciates the involvement of the students and staff.

The Interact Club at ICTC is helping the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign again this year with bell ringing at the Indiana Mall and Indiana Wal-Mart. These dedicated students were seen recently in the company of a special helper, Scooby-Doo! The money collected benefits the Salvation Army which uses the donations for emergency assistance and senior citizens. During Christmas, the donations are used for Christmas dinners, clothing, and toys to families.

The Interact club at ICTC is also helping with Toys for Tots. In the sixty years of operations, Toy for Tots has collected more than 19.2 million toys which were distributed to more than 7.4 million children nationwide. You may have noticed that large donation boxes were placed at many Indiana area businesses around the area for Toys for Tots. Everyone is encouraged to buy and donate the unwrapped toys and materials that underprivileged children may need. ICTC Interact members, with their school advisor, Ms. Cathy Marsh, helped to sort the toys at the Indiana Mall.

With the holidays just around the corner, the Indiana County Technology Center Key Club hopes to spread some cheer. On Dec.14 th the Key Club, with their school advisor, Ms. Erin Eisenman, will host their third annual Santa’s Adventure, a night dedicated to the children participating in the Indiana County Head Start. The night is filled with an abundance of activities to capture the spirit of the season. Children enjoy listening to stories, taking their pictures with Santa and receiving a special gift, creating and decorating a Christmas frame for their pictures, and enjoying a small snack. Santa’s adventure is a Key club, student-organized activity. Key Club members are selling lollipops to help fund this valuable event.

We applaud the time and efforts made by our school student leaders and faculty advisors. They work tirelessly to improve our school and community.

For more information on the ICTC, click here.

###