Cape Coral High School’s Red Cross club is organizing projects to stay active and give a helping hand at Cape High.
The Red Cross club strives to support both local and global communities through fundraising and directly helping others. Club leadership work in coordination with the regional Red Cross, and organizes volunteer opportunities for students.
IB Senior and Club President Ivan He describes the club as, “a smaller club which engages in practices that help other people, like fundraisers, donation drives, etc.”
Sophomore and Volunteer Coordinator Jerry Laborde explains, “I would describe the Red Cross club as a pretty simple, yet significant club. We help to raise money for the foundation so that it can support people in need,” Laborde adds.
In terms of the newer projects, the Red Cross has upcoming plans before the winter break. “We are having a clothing drive soon,” stated He. “We haven’t decided on the name yet but it will be winter and holiday themed. I’m very excited to announce it.”
The club’s clothing drive is in collaboration with another club, Dignity Closet, whose mission is to provide essentials to students at Cape High without them.
The club’s goal is to help provide for others and raise funds for the regional Red Cross, which is a vital organization for supporting those in need, especially in the event of a disaster. “I hope to raise more money for the regional red cross in order to help others,” Club Historian and Secretary Sophomore Yan Ling Wu explains.
Members and officers have nothing but good words to say about the club’s environment as well. “I enjoy attending each meeting, gathering with my fellow officers and members to do whatever it is we have planned,” stated Laborde. “I enjoy the fact that I can work with people who also want to help others,” added He.
The Red Cross Club has been a long running club at Cape High with many successful past events. “We’ve had a good variety of activities over the years,” stated He. “My favorites are the bake sale we had at a farmers market last year, and the holiday grams that we usually share.”
Previously this year the club raised funds by selling small bags of candy called “spooky grams.” Throughout the year the Red Cross club often sells these holiday themed candy grams for fundraising.
The club’s passionate officers are motivated to continue improving and expanding the club. “I hope to bring more people and participate in the Red Cross club,” He comments. “While it’s not a small club by any means, more people in the club means we can do bigger projects to help more people.”
The Red Cross club meets every other Thursday after school in Ms. Marinelli’s room (154).
Wu believes that more people should join the club because, “They can make new friends and get hours through volunteering.” He elaborates on the club’s benefits and adds, “It’s a club that takes a small amount
