As student body president, Noblesville High School senior Kelsey Sigman founded Live2Serve as a way to encourage her peers to give back to the Noblesville community. To assist families in need, Live2Serve started a donation drive that ranked as one of the most successful in NHS history.
Live2Serve collected coats, nonperishable food items and money, all of which was given to the Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County. Good Samaritan is comprised of 37 food and clothing pantries, more than 200 local churches, and numerous social service agencies and organizations in Hamilton County.
“In just two weeks, the organization received 659 coats and 9,500 canned food items,” Sigman said. “It’s such a blessing. I can’t believe the counts. We are very encouraged in the way it was so successful.”
Six elementary schools and four high school classes had a friendly competition to bring in the most winter jackets. Hinkle Creek and White elementary schools tied with 101 coats. The senior class edged out the sophomore class within the high school.
The canned food drive pitted academic departments against one another. Sigman said teachers were particularly interested in winning because the top department’s educators (the social studies department that collected 4,348 items) were allowed to wear blue jeans for one week of school.
Sigman said her goal was to see the donation drive continue long after she graduated.
“It’s so important to start a tradition of giving back at the high school and lower levels,” she said. “I think we created a legacy. We have to make sure we do this next year.”
Sigman said approximately 100 students helped load the donations on Dec. 14 and 50 students assisted with organizing all the items on Dec. 15.
“The energy here was great,” she said following the event at the Forest Park Lodge. “We created a cause that people felt passionate about.”
Fellow classmates are also passionate about what Sigman has started.
“The highlight of all of this was the realization that teenagers aren’t powerless under the will of adults. We may have more obstacles, but if there is determination, goodness will prevail and happiness can be made,” added NHS senior Dayton Jennings.
Upcoming Live2Serve activities include a Ping Pong for a Purpose tournament, a Live2Serve Awareness Basketball Game and a dance.
By the Numbers
• 659 coats – Elementary School Coats: Hinkle Creek, 101; Noble Crossing, 19; Hazel Dell, 93; Promise Road, 92; North, 92; and White River, 101. High School Coats: freshmen, 14; sophomores, 63; juniors, 11; and seniors, 73.
• 9,500 canned food items – Social Studies, 4,348; World Language, 1,388; English, 960; Science and Technology, 555; and Math, 231. Total donations from both campuses were not available for Wellness, Arts and Performing Arts, and Business and Resource departments.
