Beacon receives gift from FSHS students

Tribune photo/Brett Dalton Fort Scott High School students, faculty and staff present a $3,000 check to the local community assistance agency, The Beacon, represented by Jared Witt. FSHS students along with the school's staff raised $2,000 through a seminar competition fundrasier and raised another $1,000 through the annual poinsettia sale. Pictured from left are: Office Secretary Diana Heckman, Activities Director Larry Fink, Witt, Custodian Leon Stark and Student Council seniors Nichole Daily, Sarah Farmer and Michael Durbin.

The Christmas season is commonly referred to as the "season of giving," and Fort Scott High School is doing their part in giving to a good cause.

Thanks to generous donations from FSHS students, faculty and staff, along with the school's annual poinsettia fund raiser, FSHS presented The Beacon, a local community assistance agency, with a $3,000 check Tuesday at the school.

Student council sponsor Lisa Ward said the students, faculty and staff raised $2,000 through a seminar competition where they were challenged to donate money over a two week period. Ward said the minimum donation was $1, though many were a little more generous.

"We had a group of 14 kids that together raised $170," Ward said. "Then a group of 18 staff members donated $200."

Ward said that orders during November's poinsettia sale raised the other $1,000.

"It's nice to show that the money we're raising we're just not spending on ourselves," Ward said.

FSHS has conducted fund raisers for The Beacon for many years, Ward said. She added that various activities have been used to raise money, with the seminar competition being one of the more successful ones.

The Beacon director Bob Eckles said he is always grateful for the money raised by FSHS, and is "amazed" by how much they are able to donate.

"This year was outstanding," Eckles said. "It really was an amazing effort. I don't know how they do it."

By donating money, Eckles said students show that they understand the importance of giving to needy families.

"It tells me that kids know that you can use your energy and your talent for something more humanitarian and compassionate than just beating the other team," he said.

The Beacon, 525 E. Sixth St., is open 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.