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Middle School Students to Spend Holidays Helping Victims of Flood

Service club members at Moundsville Middle School are working to help less fortunate peers in southern West Virginia.

The Moundsville Middle School Leo Club, a branch of the city’s Lions Club, began a project this week to reach out to communities impacted by recent flooding in the Mountain State. According to instructor and club leader Mike Eskridge, the students adopted Elkview Middle School in Clendenin, a Kanawha County community, this month.

The club’s mission of the year is to raise $10,000 before Christmas to give to the school’s administration to use at their discretion to help children in need.

Eskride said the club is encouraging local businesses and schools to contribute $1 per employee or student to reach the goal. He added Elkview Middle School administrators will be in charge of how the funds are handled once delivered by the club.

The club, which began 13 years ago, now has 46 members. In the past, Leo students have supported several causes, ranging from Hurricane Katrina relief to building a new water system in Mozambique. For the flood relief drive, the club will have collections at football games, local churches and more.

“People have been very compassionate by sending water, clothes and cleaning supplies, but with actual money they can purchase exactly what they need so nothing is duplicated.” Eskridge said. “I hope the students see that when someone is down on their luck or going through a hardship, someone will always be there for them.”

Leo Club president and eighth-grader Isaac Woods, who traveled to Kanawha County in December for an archery event, will return in the week before Christmas, along with other club members, to help Eskridge drop off the funds.

“We enjoy helping people and doing projects in the community,” Woods said. “I’m excited to travel in December and meet new people.”

Assistant Principal Shey McGuire said the club helps students develop in a positive way.

“The Leo Club helps teach our kids about service to others,” he said. “It helps them realize how fortunate they are when they help other people who don’t have as much as they do.”

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