Students aim to keep New Holland warm

About five years ago, a girl who attended the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) summer Power Camp enjoyed it so much that she requested a "Huddle," a group of students that meets regularly for Bible study with an FCA staff member or volunteer, be formed at New Holland Elementary School (NHES), where she attended. "Typically, we deal with junior high (students) and up," said Adam Burns, FCA area representative. "But (this girl) wanted to get an elementary Huddle started at New Holland, and it has been going (ever since)."

According to NHES FCA Huddle member and sixth-grade student Cora L., as many as 30 students might attend a Huddle meeting. "It depends on who can come," said Cora, who explained that the Huddle, which consists of students in grades four through six, meets prior to school, from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. on Fridays at the school.

Toward the end of 2023, the group decided to hold a Hats, Scarves, and Gloves Drive. "One of the things I have wanted to do with them is to start thinking outside our typical Huddle time," said Burns. "I was trying to get them to think of ways to help their school or community." The NHES FCA Huddle student leadership team, which includes sixth-graders Bruce S. and Jackson B., as well as Cora, has decided to collect new hats, gloves, and scarves for area children and adults in need, and Burns reached out to CrossNet Ministries in New Holland to see if the ministry could distribute such items. "With it being winter, I threw out the idea of a hat, scarves, and glove drive," recalled Burns, who added that the student leaders agreed and "jumped on board."

The students went to work to promote the effort before school ended for the holiday break in December. "We sent home flyers throughout the school so every family knows about it," said Jackson. Burns noted that he has encouraged the students in the Huddle to promote the drive at the churches they attend, and he has talked to pastors about setting up collection bins in church lobbies. Bruce reported that a collection bin is located in the NHES school office at 126 Eastern School Road, New Holland, and that members of the public are welcome to drop off items at the school.

"We would love the greater New Holland community to be part of this," said Burns, who added that he spoke with Lisa Kerstetter, former community events manager with CrossNet, about what is most needed. Kerstetter said that the ministry is specifically looking for new ski gloves. "Those are the things they go through the quickest," reported Burns.

Students returned to NHES on Jan. 2, and the collection will run through Wednesday, Jan. 31, after which the collected items will be delivered to CrossNet. Burns noted that the collected items will probably be tabulated by counting them. "If it's successful, it is something we would like to do again," he stated. "That will give the kids a number to try to beat next year."

Meredith Dahl, executive director with CrossNet Ministries, noted that the ministry is thankful for the drive. "We are grateful to FCA NHES Huddle for collecting hats and scarves for families in the ELANCO community," said Dahl, who pointed that the items from the drive will be made available to members of the community who need them to keep warm this winter. "As we hit these cold winter months, having these items available is a huge blessing and makes an impact for many local families," she said.

Currently, NHES is the only elementary school in the ELANCO School District to hold a Huddle. "We have teachers at the other schools willing to be advisers," said Burns, but he added that a student at the school must request a Huddle before one may be formed.

More information about CrossNet may be found at http://www.elancocross.org. Readers who have questions about the Hats, Scarves, and Gloves Drive may email adamburns@fca.org.