The Wayne Hills Future Business Leaders of America recently held a food drive donating all collected items to Oasis, a shelter for women and children, and a soup kitchen in Paterson, New Jersey.

In the spirit of the holiday season, the Wayne Hills FBLA decided to give back to the local community, as community service is a fundamental aspect of the worldwide organization. Collecting non-perishable items and gift cards to major grocery stores, the FBLA donated multiple bags of canned items to Oasis.

Oasis provides educational and social services for children and women. The location also has a soup kitchen serving meals regularly. As a beacon of hope for many individuals going through a difficult time, Oasis is an incredible organization.

Providing English language classes, GED courses, and work and certificate programs, the organization offers women the opportunity to rebuild their lives in a positive and nurturing setting.

On Monday, December 20, FBLA officers Daryna Yushchenko, Kate LoPresti, Skylar Levitt, and Eunho Jung went to Oasis to drop off all collected items along with their two advisors Miss. Noll, a graphics design and yearbook teacher, and Ms. Tomaiko, a child-development teacher.

At Oasis, officers and advisors were given a tour of the facility and were able to see what services the organization provides. With a large cafeteria and thrift store for local residents, Oasis is a local community safe haven for Paterson residents.

With a little over fifteen bags of food items and a handful of gift cards, the Wayne Hills FBLA was proud to present Oasis with the collected items.

“The Oasis food collection was a great way to gather donations over the Thanksgiving and winter holidays and it was amazing to see FBLA members’ donations mean something for the workers at Oasis,” said FBLA President Daryna Yushchenko.

Similarly, advisors Miss Noll and Ms. Tomaiko believe that “Community service is an important aspect of the FBLA organization. Engaging in community service provides students a chance to become active members of their community while creating a lasting, positive impact on society as a whole,” they shared. “We are beyond proud of donations raised by the FBLA members and their generosity towards those in need.  The students were excited and humbled to be able to bring the donations to Oasis and see for themselves the help it would be provided during a challenging holiday Covid season.  We look forward to building more relationships with the community in the future.”

The Wayne Hills FBLA hopes to continue to make a positive difference through community service in the local community.