Flagstaff students collect Soles4Souls

The students of Flagstaff Academy showed that a little Respect can go a long way, after collecting more than 1,000 pairs of new and gently used shoes for Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based charitable organization that distributes shoes and clothing to those in need around the world.

Spearheaded by the charter school's National Junior Honor Society, the shoe drive took place during October, when the school was focusing on Respect as a part of their ongoing Dragon PRIDE core virtues initiative.

"Every month is a different service project," Flagstaff's Lisa Trank-Greene said. The core virtues are Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, and Empathy. "Respect was part of our second month. The first month we delivered thank-you cards and produce baskets to first responders...and we're just finishing up a canned food drive for Our Center, and next month we'll be delivering a place mat and decorated bag for Meals-on-Wheels. It's wonderful because we're connecting with organizations throughout the community. "

The projects are run in turn by NJHS or Flagstaff's Student Council, with oversight from members of Flagstaff's Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Team. In October, NJHS officers Mya Blair, Ellery Hora, Jeslyn Haux, and Molly Slupik connected with Soles4Souls to coordinate the month-long drive, which often overwhelmed the large collection boxes set-up throughout the school.

"It was school-wide, so every classroom participated, from preschool kids up to eighth grade, and staff and parents, too, so it was definitely a community-wide initiative."

According to Trank-Greene, more than 50 volunteer hours went into the project, with about half coming from NJHS students.