While many know that several SkillsUSA students will be going to Reno this week to participate in job-related competitions, not many know about other community projects in which these students are involved.
In December, SkillsUSA, along with Project Pink, came together to support the Holiday Heroes Toy Drive.
Led by Sophia Booth, Lucas Pfahler, and Kara Silver, this initiative gathered over 50 youth volunteers and collected more than 500 toys for Peggy’s Attic, an organization supporting foster children and families in crisis.
“This project showcased the power of youth leadership and service, with SkillsUSA members and other student organizations stepping up to make a difference,” said Booth, Silverado’s SkillsUSA chapter secretary. “Our SkillsUSA chapter not only organized a toy drive that collected 500 toys for foster children, but we also recruited new members by partnering with other school clubs like Project Pink and Key Club.”
The collaborative effort also included Liberty High School, Northwest Career Technical Academy (NWCTA), Coral Academy of Science (CASLV), and the nonprofit organization Girls Together.
The toy drive wasn’t the only activity done for the community lately. Last month, boxes labeled “SkillsUSA & Project Pink Book Drive” were spotted around the school, particularly in English classes. This book drive for Peggy’s Attic aims to donate books for children in need. Last Friday, students collected several boxes of donated books from classrooms to be delivered to the children, but the drive is extended until April 18, if anyone still wishes to donate gently used or new children’s and YA books.
This week, many S
killsUSA students will attend SLSC: the State Leadership and Skills Conference in Reno, where they will participate in leadership and career-related activities. Students will participate in competitions, which can range from welding fabrication to customer service. The skills they honed during the toy drive will undeniably serve them as they bring those same skills to the conference.
Through these efforts, Silverado students make meaningful impacts on their communities while also building valuable skills that will aid them in their future endeavors.
