This year Johnston’s Big Give is working to help the community. The goal this year is to raise money and collect items for the community.
“Our goal is to be able to support the community to the best we can and to bring the student body as well as Johnston community together,” senior and student body president, Katie Marckmann said.
Some events from last year’s Big Give are the same and others are new. For example, this year the focus is on collecting both items and money, rather than solely money.
This year the Big Give is being kicked off with the basketball game on Jan. 25 against Urbandale. The game will be a purple out. There will be a bake sale from 6-9 p.m.
At halftime of the boys game there will be a mini basketball toss. There will be prizes for the people who get the basketball into the target.
Then following the game Overtime will be held at Johnston Evangelical Free Church and there will be free pizza, purchased by the student council, as well as dodge ball for students to participate in. There will also be video games for the students to play.
Jan. 28 kicks of AOK (Acts of Kindness Program) where bracelets will be given to anyone helping others.
It also kicks off the canned food drive which will be during second period. Items that are in high demand from the food pantry are worth more points. The winning class will win a tray full of cookies.
In addition to all of that, Buffalo Wild Wings will donate a portion of their proceeds from 6-9 p.m. to the Big Give.
On Jan. 29 Subway will be donating a portion of their proceeds from 4-8 p.m.
The pancake breakfast is on Jan. 30. This will be held outside of the cafeteria from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Pancakes will be made by the Kiwanis. Any student is able to purchase a ticket for $5 from the accounting office ahead of time, or the day of the pancake breakfast.
The talent show will be held in the middle school auditorium at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31st. Tickets will be available for $5 in the accounting office or at the talent show.
On Feb. 5 Coldstone on 86th Street will be donating a portion of their proceeds.
Another big day to keep in mind is Feb. 6. In advisory tie blankets will be made and donated to different organizations in the community. We will also begin collecting items to fill backpacks for different organizations. The advisories will have a list of all the items you can collect for the backpacks.
Feb. 6 is also the last day to sign up for the dodge ball intramural which will be held on Feb. 10. There will be 10 players on each team, and it is $5 per person.
On Feb. 7 Orange Leaf will donate a portion of its proceeds from 5-9 p.m.
Feb. 8 ends the canned food drive and AOK.
The final day of the Big Give will be Feb. 13. Backpacks will be collected and Buffalo Wild Wings will also be donating a portion of their proceeds that night from 6-9 p.m.
“I think it will be good to have the variety of events,” Marckmann said. “Some during the school day and others that the community can participate in.”
