Sunny Hill Intermediate School put the ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving this year when students and staff showed up and showed out for the school’s first canned food drive. Nearly 4,200 cans of food were collected on behalf of the Carl Perkins Center. Instructional Facilitator Sharon Clark proudly shared, “We were in awe and so proud of our students by the friendly competitive spirit they demonstrated while giving back to the community.” The classes from each grade who collected the most cans were rewarded with a donut party. Alisa Smith’s sixth-grade class celebrated 100 percent participation and touted a grand total of 713 cans. For the fifth grade, Ella Williamson’s class donated 518 cans of generosity. Clark extended “special thanks to Haywood County Parks and Recreation for picking up the cans and delivering them to the Carl Perkins Center.”

Pictured above: Ella Williamson’s fifth grade winners include: back row (L-R): Morgan Robinson, Amiya Bills, Mohammad Mohammad, Makiya Willis, Syriah Currie, Rakiyah Parrish and Ms. Ella Williamson. Front row: Jearious Smith, Jabreia Brooks, Amari Butler, Cordarion Worles, Chase Wilson and Jakybria Freeman.

Pictured below: Sixth grade winners from Alisa Smith’s class: back row (L-R): Chyna Pirtle, Mia Ocequeda, Nahalia Sneed, Alexis Tyus, Derrick Woodland, Tristen Smith, Jayden Holloway and Steven Holden; middle row: LaTaurus Sellers, Ms. Alisa Smith, Jade Avitia, Julius Ferguson and Josue Teran; front row: Damon Lee, Francisco Alvarado Ramirez and Eli Wools. Not pictured: Kyrin Walker.