Arlington School & Family Magazine January 2015 | Page 24

Campus News

Martin High School
“Making Spirits Bright” by Binh Le

of the project was to send 153 goody-filled stockings to these
men and women who serve our county. Spanish teacher
Michelle Torres asked her students if they could donate
and many agreed. Many students and teachers have family
members who serve in the military, and being apart can be
hard during the holidays.
“My husband was in the Marines, and he’s been deployed
twice,” Torres said. “I wanted to help since I understand the
hard military lifestyle.”
Along with Martin, Bailey Junior High, Bowen Road School,
Arlington High School and MCA Hospital volunteers
donated to help out our servicemen and women. Student
Council also had a part in the project.
The majority of Torres’ classes voted to donate beef jerky
packets for the project. The other items that are being
donated are taken care of by other schools, organizations,
families or people.
“My grandpa was in World War II,” junior Kaley Ivy said. “I
felt it was necessary to donate. If I was out there, this is what
I would want – something to remind myself of home when
times are rough.”

Approximately 330 bags of beef jerky, 558 Rice Crispy treats,
934 fruit snack packets, 544 energy bars and many more
items were collected for the donation project on Nov. 14 from
different organizations, people and schools.
Making Spirits Bright is a donation project managed by
Bonnie Flynt, a retired Spanish teacher. Flynt retired from
teaching at Martin in 2011.
“This project is for the men and women that cannot be home
for the holidays,” Flynt said. “I think t H