PHMS Dignity and Respect Interest Group serving those in need

Each Wednesday after school, Pleasant Hills Middle School offers interest groups for all students. A new group, the Dignity and Respect Interest Group, was started by sixth grade teachers Mrs. Gambino and Mrs. Fairhead. The group is comprised of students in grades 6-8 who place a high priority on helping others within the community. The group’s mission reinforces the middle school’s message of Dignity and Respect by leading service projects to help those in need.

For their most recent project, students organized a donation drive to benefit South Hills Pet Rescue. They collected a truckload of dog food, pet supplies, toys, blankets and towels for the cages and kennels, and bottles to nurse sick animals or those weaned too soon.

Past outreach projects included a sock drive for the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Thanksgiving treats to local veterans at Veterans Place in Pittsburgh, treat bags/Christmas cards to active service members in Germany, and donations to a local food kitchen. Plans are already underway to donate toiletry supplies to a local women’s shelter.