By Corrina Huang
Special Writer for The Review
Students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Lake Orion recently volunteered their energy and talents to Stomp Out Cold Feet in Destination ImagiNation, a national non-profit organization that fosters creativity, problem solving and teamwork.
More than 125,000 students in the United States and 30 other countries participate in the annual effort to solve global problems in a fun and supportive learning environment.
This year, the team from St. Joseph’s participated in the Project Outreach, world canvas category of the competition. This required them to identify and assess a problem in their local community and, most importantly, develop a solution.
The team’s goal was to collect and distribute gently used boots, according to student Sarah Falkowski. Classmate Olivia Packard explained, ?12,000 children and adults go without winter clothing each year. We have 11 different donation sites.?
‘More than half of these people are under the age of seven,? said Ricky Johnson, whose mother Sarah Johnson is the team facilitator.
‘We got involved because we heard how great an experience it is for the kids,? Sarah Johnson said. ‘Most teams do the performance challenges, but this year the kids pushed for a central challenge.?
Points are awarded for the team’s presentation, advertisement, marketing brochure, evaluation, and team choice elements one and two. The team met three days a week to prepare their campaign. Students are graded on teamwork, how well they solved the problem and building on each other’s creativity.
‘I’m not allowed to help the kids,? Johnson said. ‘They decide on the challenge, do the assessment and design everything.?
Boot collection sites include St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Lake Orion Public Library, Lake Orion Pediatrician, Collier Lanes, Clarkston State Bank, First Baptist Church, King of Kings Church, Hollywood Markets, Concorde Place (Auburn Hills) and Bishop Kelley School. Donations are being accepted through February 17.
The St. Joseph students enlisted help from partners HAP, Health Alliance and the Department of Health Services to distribute the boots this winter.