Maysville’s Student Hands Helping

SOUTH ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Since 1982, when Sondra Karr filled four baskets to provide four families a Christmas dinner, Maysville School’s Helping Hands program has grown into a significant charitable operation. 

Today, the program serves 210 children food and gifts through 81, 27-gallon totes, which are prepared by a brigade of Maysville students and staff members, while utilizing the spacious Rolling Plains Methodist Church facility, conveniently located nearby.

“So Helping Hands is a three-day process, as far as being at the church,” Helping Hands Coordinator Misty Paskell said. “Day one is what you’re seeing behind us. The students come in and they’re taking everything that we’ve collected for the past few weeks through the community and through our school district. And they’re organizing it between the tables for what we’ve brought in. Every family gets a tote full of food so we try to make sure everyone gets equal amounts of everything. And the kids are just sorting currently.” 

Day two consists of packing the totes and tagging the toys before day three’s distribution. 8th Grade Student Council Member McKenna Norman talked about her role in the operation and why she volunteered.

“So I was a part of Student Council and they gave us a meeting saying that we could come to the food drive or the Adopt A Child (toy-drive). I wanted to do the food drive because I love working with food and helping people. I love doing this and I think that it’s a really good idea to help families who may not… like, may need something that can’t get it. And I think it’s awesome,” Norman said.

Helping Hands is a community effort in which local organizations and business establishments become drop-off locations for donated items. Each October, the school district gears-up by posting how businesses and residents can participate. Anyone interested in donating to next year’s Helping Hands holiday drive can contact the Maysville School District’s Administration Office.