Holiday Food Drive at Hollibrook Elementary

Hollibrook Elementary School’s students took part in a community-building effort by sponsoring a successful Holiday Food Drive with the East Spring Branch Food Pantry. The food drive was one of several student-led team building efforts held at the school this semester.

A 950-can goal was more than doubled when 1,924 cans of food and related goods were donated for Thanksgiving. The all-volunteer East Spring Branch Food Pantry is located on the grounds of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 7901 Westview Drive.

Juan Sosa-Tirado, the new campus counselor, has helped Hollibrook students meet community needs in several areas. These include:

• Red Ribbon Week Activities. Seventy-five students took part in a “Say No to Drugs” writing challenge after viewing a campus-created video on drugs and youth issues. Students who wrote an essay to first-graders talking about the danger involved in drugs and alcohol won pencils and other small prizes.
• Hollibrook’s New Hornet Mascot. Counselor Sosa-Tirado, who dresses up as the school mascot, has inspired new appreciation in the Hollibrook Hornet mascot. The counselor helped create the new mascot earlier this fall.
• Letters to Veterans Campaign. Hollibrook students at all grade levels have written short, personal letters to returning area military veterans. The student letters were delivered to vets through the Houston Veteran’s Administration.
• Student Coat Drive. Through a local nonprofit effort, 15 kindergarten-level students have new coats to ward off the chilly, sometimes freezing, temperatures that can occur in the months ahead.

Sosa-Tirado, who is pursuing a master’s degree in bilingual counseling through the University of Houston at Clear Lake, notes that the community work he and others are doing is supported by school administrators and his own current studies.

“While we are giving back, we are also focusing on multicultural competencies and multiculturalism through student leadership and involvement, and by these community partnerships,” he said.

Sosa-Tirado attends UH-Clear Lake on full scholarship.