The Black and White

by Galilea Gonzalez

Life Saver, run by Ms. Tamburini, is well known for their contribution to providing medical education to Pilgrim students and their training of EMTs which accompany school functions in the event of an emergency. What often goes unnoticed is the work that The Life Saver Club contributes to charity drives that aids the local community. The members have spent hours of their time organizing and spreading awareness to encourage the school to give back in many ways. Last month Life Saver conducted the Thanksgiving food drive for Project Hand Up to collect non-perishable food items like pasta, canned and jarred food, and full box meals.

This was done as an effort to assist in the growing problem of food insecurity in America. According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in 2024, 38% of households in the state face food insecurity. Food insecurity means not being able to access an adequate amount and quality of food that meets basic needs. The percentage of food insecure households has increased in recent years from the total average in Rhode Island being 18% in 2021.

Although Life Saver was able to collect a sizable amount of non-perishable food items, it still fell short from their goal. Two seniors from LifeSaver and the managers of the food drive, Alyssa Trudell and Sila Yang attribute this to students not stepping up to do their part.

“Considering the great cause it was for, I’m disappointed that more people didn’t donate. We got a good amount of food but not enough to feed people for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The goal is for these people to have full stomachs on these big holidays and maybe afterwards. I would like more people to give to the cause.” Stated Alyssa Trudell.

This December The LifeSaver is working with the Make-A-Wish foundation to collect brand new toys to give to children with chronic and terminal illnesses. The holiday season is a time of year usually marked by joy and happy memories for most children. But for those who are sick and can’t leave the hospital it can be a lonely and isolating time of the year knowing that they aren’t able to be home with their family and can’t participate in the festive activities that other kids do. Having toys for the holiday season can make all the difference. Yet this year the toy drive just like the food drive didn’t meet the expected goals . 

“That’s also one of my main issues. We had a lot of people sign up for the food drive and the toy drive, and when we ended up contacting them, barely anybody showed up. And the same people from the food drive came to the toy drive.” Sila Yang the primary manger of the toy drive elaborated when talking about her frustration with the lack of participation. “With the holidays, it’s about family, it’s about giving, and I am not seeing that with the toy drive this year. I’m not even seeing that with the food drive. I wish that that people who sign up stick to it, and if they can’t contact us, we made it clear that if you have questions or any issues, contact me, contact Alyssa.” 

Although disappointed both Alyssa Trudell and Sila Yang are hopeful that the student body will become more involved and more active in the future local charity drives to come.