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HHS collects cans for Kans for Kids; food for Food Bank
hoi kl cans
Erica Schwager, Ashley Lockwood and Kagan Blackwell stand in front of one days collection of aluminum cans for Kans for Kids at Hoisington High School. As a part of Spirit Week, the students decided to give back to a worthy cause. They were dressed up for Throwback Day. - photo by KAREN LA PIERRE

HOISINGTON — As a part of Spirit Week last week and after hearing a presentation from Kans for Kids, Hoisington High School students collected aluminum cans for Kans for Kids and food for the Hoisington Food Bank.
“I heard they hadn’t done a presentation at Hoisington High School,” said senior Kagen Blackwell. Some of the students didn’t really know what Kans for Kids was about, and the organization was brought in to enlighten the students.
“The presentation went well,” Blackwell said. Hunter Donecker, who is 9 years old and is Kans for Kids ambassador, did a speech.  
Kans for Kids started 19 years ago and Sept. 14, 2014 will be the 20th anniversary. They have helped 28 kids in Barton County who have had cancer and have raised $950,000.
“Kans for Kids has done a lot of good for my family, and I wanted to pay it forward,” said Blackwell. Blackwell has a family member who had cancer.
“Most people really liked it,” he said of the presentation.
The Kans for Kids presentation led up to the students deciding to collect cans.
It was senior Erica Schwager’s idea to collect the cans after hearing the presentation. She thought the students could do something for the organization.
“We need to get something done and this was the outcome,” she said.
“We thought it would be a good idea to do something  class oriented,” said student Ashley Lockwood. “We thought it would be a good idea to have a class competition.”
The project has benefitted the students. “It makes me feel helpful,” said Lockwood. “Kans for Kids brings comfort to friends. It’s good to see everyone involved.”
Principal Meg Wilson said, “Seniors are the winners so far,” in the number of cans collected. The school is considering keeping the collection as an ongoing project.
“It’s important for seniors to want to have a leadership role,” said Wilson. “They know they can make a difference. That’s what leadership is about.”
Food Bank
Freshman, sophomore, junior and senior members of the Cardinal Crew, which is the pep club at HHS, decorated a grocery cart. Food was collected at the football game for the Hoisington Food Bank.
Each class was allowed to decorate the carts as a vehicle of their choice. The carts were decorated as an airplane, two boats and an ambulance.