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MONTGOMERY-- Three Montgomery High School seniors, Saige Whipple, Emily Wolfgang and Cameron Yeagle, were chosen to work on a social change project with the Pennsylvania College of Technology Youth Leadership program and got their project "Handy Health Bags" funded by the college.
The three students were chosen this past school year when they were still juniors and were selected by their entire junior class. Within each school district of the county, only three students are chosen to apply for the program and present their social change project for a chance to be funded.
"It felt like an honor," Wolfgang said.
The students came up with the idea to help the homeless through "Handy Health Bags," which was a drawstring bag full of essential items that anyone might need while living between shelters or on the streets. Items like toothbrushes, tooth paste, shampoo and conditioner, soap, deodorant, pads, tampons and more were included.
While many other school districts focused on opening community centers or better school playgrounds and equipment, "Handy Health Bags" was a unique choice of social change and stood out among the other school district projects because the students started the project before the program began.
The three students placed second among the other projects and were funded $500 originally and were given an extra $300 for the purchase of the bags to put the items in, Wolfgang said.
"We bounced around a bunch of different ideas. We settled on the idea of making the bags and donating them to the homeless shelters," Yeagle said. "We thought it would be more convenient and that it would be unique and beneficial."
"We did a fundraiser at our school district to start," Whipple said. "We did it in the elementary and middle schools. We were not expecting it to be as good as it was. We had two cars full of donations. It was insane."
Though many of the products were donated, the group purchased more products and some products did not fit in the bags or were not considered a necessity for every person who was receiving the bags.
Additional products like diapers, baby wipes and other baby needs were donated alongside the bags.
The group donated close to 200 bags to the YWCA, the American Rescue Workers and the Saving Grace Shelter in Williamsport.
In addition, the program brought students to different memorials, the local food bank and SPCA to help them with ideas, teaching them leadership skills, social change and advocacy skills.
"I learned how to work with others and teamwork and put different abilities together to help and to reach a goal," Yeagle said.
"It opened my eyes to see how many people are struggling in life," Wolfgang said.
"I learned how to help people and how to outreach," Whipple added. "It made me think about what people need in life. I saw a different point of view on how people appreciate things in life and how there are people in need."