Sophomore Hernika Singh was sitting in her Husky Leadership 2 class and thought about how many could not afford necessary sports equipment, and realized that she wanted change and for everyone to be able to participate. She had an idea to create a way for students to play the sport they love, without worrying about finances. For Husky Leadership two, a class offered here at Morgan, five students within that class took on this initiative for their final project.
Sophomores Hernika Singh and Lea Mora, and seniors Michael Derenzo, Ariana Farr, and Aden Gadun started the Husky Stop program as a way to help their community, inside Morgan.
Husky Leadership 2 is an elective course taught by Mrs. Sears, the athletic director during G period, however, to take it, you’re required to take the Husky Leadership 1 class as a prerequisite. Husky Leadership 2 introduces you to leadership, leadership styles, and how you can lead and be a leader at Morgan. Husky leadership 2 is where you apply these skills to solve real world problems.
This year’s initiative is called the Husky Stop. The Husky Stop is a program for students to come by and donate any of their old sports equipment. There are various boxes around the school to drop off equipment. Including near the learning commons and near the athletic hallway. This includes sports equipment such as cleats and athletic wear. So far, the Husky Stop has received nothing, so they are hoping to advertise in the weekly blast and get equipment.
Singh has been working to grow the program, which is why Morgan needs to participate to make that happen. “The biggest hurdle is getting people to donate and continue donating. I hope this becomes a consistent resource in Morgan and other schools, and people in out community know about it.”
The purpose of the Husky Stop is to give second hand sports equipment to anyone who might need it, as a way to try and help out the community. It is donation-based, almost like a thrift shop. It is very similar to another program at Morgan called the Kindness Closet, which has donated clothes and supplies.
Throughout Morgan, there are 165 students who qualify for free or reduced meals, which is 35% of the whole school, because of financial struggle. Many of those 165 kids would probably also like to feel included and play a sport, but considering financial struggle, many may not be able to.
“Mrs. Sears has had students, and I have friends who I know would benefit from it,” said Singh.
Singh came up with the idea originally, but the whole group of 5 students executed the program together. They all knew of some students, who could not afford the equipment, and wanted to help them.
Each week, there will be a form in the weekly blast and students can anonymously fill it out and request items they may need for sports. A message will then be set out, requesting the items needed, seeing if anyone can donate them.
They want to advertise the Husky Stop through the blast as a way to draw attention to it. Parents also read the blast, making it accessible if they want to give away equipment too.
“We have seen other initiatives like the Kindness Closet work very well and be a staple in our community, and we wanted something like that but for sports,” added Singh.
The five students are working with the organization, Lead4Change, a privately funded student leadership program. Lead4Change works with students from various schools to teach them the power of leadership and how to apply leadership skills. It is designed to teach 6th-12th graders how to lead and how to make a change in their community.
“The class already followed Lead4Change, we didn’t pick it, Mrs. Sears did,” said Singh.
Singh and her classmates are very hopeful that people will realize how beneficial the program could be to our school, and that they will donate, “especially knowing how generous our community is,” said Singh
Currently, the Husky Stop is located in the athletic director’s, Mrs. Sears, office. Along with this, there are posters all around the school advertising the Husky Stop. Anyone can stop by anytime and pick up equipment that might be needed, there are boxes where the equipment is held. These posters have a Q
R code that is scannable, and anyone who needs sports equipment can use it to request anything they need.
Singh said, “They can just come pick it up, no questions asked.”
The students who started this program are hoping to make the Husky Stop successful in all three schools, Morgan, Elliot, and Joel. Right now, the program is only at Morgan but if successful, it is hoping to expand.
“It will likely be a problem in all three schools, not just Morgan, so we want to expand,” closed Singh.
