Harvest

In March of 2009, the GPS Student Council met with school administrators, hoping to brainstorm ways in which the GPS community might address the economic crisis while simultaneously coordinate GPS’s existing community service initiatives. The result is a new program, Harvest, which acts in a concentrated and effective way to allow all students, parents, faculty, and friends of the school to support Chattanooga and the community organizations which help its citizens.

After just one year in existence, the Harvest program was nominated for local PBS station WTCI's inaugural Be More Awards for "excellence in the community." 

On every Wednesday morning of the school year, various groups in the school (clubs, advisories, sports teams, etc) stand at the two major drop off locations and help collect the Harvest item(s) of the month. These are selected from a list of community organizations’ needs compiled by Weesie Cook, GPS Community Service Director. The lists are then given to the Student Council, the group in charge of coordinating sign ups and overseeing weekly logistics.

The clubs or advisories who volunteer for weekly service are given the option to select which organization they wish to support and which items they wish to solicit. In addition, they are in charge of advertising that week’s Harvest collection via a permanent Harvest e-mail (harvest@gps.edu) and communicating any special information to the GPS community.

What makes Harvest distinct is that it is completely funded by the students, more specifically revenue collected by the GPS Student Council from candy machine sales. The program seeks to connect GPS with the greatest and most pressing needs in the surrounding community, a community which continually supports our school.

Harvest collections complement the acts of individual and small group community service that take place yearlong by individuals and groups of students who tutor, build for Habitat, walk at the Komen Race, sponsor an ice cream social for Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, cook meals at the Ronald McDonald House, and volunteer in numerous ways at area organizations.

The collection schedule for Harvest 2010-11 will be posted soon. Meanwhile, here's a look at what contributions Harvest made in the Chattanooga community from February to May last year.

Harvest Collections for 2009-10

February 17, 24

African American Alliance collecting garbage bags, Clorox wipes, and paper towels for Shepherd’s Arms.

March 3, 10, 17

Improv Club collects items for the Pet Placement Center

March 24

no Harvest collection; MS Walk 

March 31

no Harvest; Spring Break

April 7, 14

USO collects items for care packages for US military men and women

April 21, 28

Spanish club sponsors La Paz De Dios

May 5, 12, 19

Sophomore advisories collect items for Metropolitan Ministries