By Emily L. Gonzalez Leal (286)

With over 100 clubs actively running at Central, many offer community service in a variety of different ways. 

 I talked to Cierra Lyles (283), president and founder of Memory Lane. Memory Lane is a club that focuses on giving back to the elderly. At their weekly meetings on Mondays or Thursdays, members make decorations, cards, pictures, bracelets, and other crafts for residents of a nursing home. Over the weekend, the cabinet visits the nursing home and distributes the goodies that students created during the week. Another aspect that takes place is fundraising. Throughout the year, members help raise money for research on Alzheimer’s disease through bake sales, walks, and other events. To gain community service hours, all you have to do is go to their meetings and help make goodies. The club has plans to complete its non-profit certification process and continue to expand to more nursing homes. Lyles also has plans for Memory Lane after she graduates, stating, “For me, though, as a senior, my future plans are to ensure that the rest of the meetings this school year are very fun and that our yearly culmination is lovely. After I graduate, I plan to help next year’s cabinet as much as possible from college and start a division of the club at my future university.” 

Annie Ning (285) is the president of the cleaning club, which focuses on cleaning selected classrooms and heavy-traffic areas. They aim to provide students with a clean, safe, and healthy environment. Students can earn community service hours by sweeping, wiping desks, and helping out in the cafeteria. They typically meet every Tuesday in room 120. 

Jenny Loo (283), president of Central Outreach, strives to form a community with not just those in the club, but those who share an interest in helping our community for the better. They work together to bring knowledge and inspiration to others within our community, hosting and participating in community service events throughout the city. They also fundraise with bake sales and events to donate to non-profit organizations. Students can earn community service hours by attending their bi-weekly meetings on Tuesday in room 231 after school and by participating in events. For every meeting and event attended, students will be given one hour of community service. They have recently fundraised over $250 in December from their bake sale and gingerbread house competition. Every year, CHS Outreach will donate to at least two non-profit organizations, with the hope to host even more events that students will find as a good networking system while providing community service hours through movie nights or scavenger hunts. 

Savannah Sandhaus (284) is a Feeding Philly intern. Feeding Philly is a student 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based out of Central High School. They work to combat food waste and insecurity in Philadelphia schools and communities. Feeding Philly proposes many community service opportunities, whether it’s their student-led food distributions at James Logan, helping manage their community fridge that can be found around the school, doing community outreach events, or attending student-leadership summits. They typically meet every Monday after school for an hour starting at 3:15. 

Nicole Li (283) is the president of CHS Letters for Destiny, which is the Philadelphia (Central HS) branch of Letters for Destiny, a student-led non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in Charlotte, North Carolina by Amya Harris and Jayla Harris. Their goal is to bring smiles to children’s faces in hospitals across the country by making handmade cards and electronic cards. In return, members can earn community service hours by making cards during and outside their meetings, one to three Thursdays a month. They hope this club continues to help students and children for years to come!