When Brighton High School students and staff came together to donate, shop and support the TIPS program, the result was more than just a successful fundraiser; it was an act of generosity and compassion that was felt across the wider community.
The Transition Into Post-Secondary (TIPS) program, run by Ms. Jody Renicker and Mr. Andrew Doupe, teaches enrolled students subjects at adjusted paces and engages them in activities and lessons that apply to their future jobs and lives. To commemorate the holidays, one of these activities included a garage sale. From Dec. 7 to Dec. 12, the TIPS program sold lightly used items from students and staff, along with baked goods, homemade food and drinks, learning valuable skills about business and managing money along the way.
“It was fun and a bit hectic because so many people ordered hot chocolate!” senior Ian Dempster, a member of the TIPS program, said.
Students within the Link program, a class where students spend time in the TIPS class, also helped out with the sale. Senior Ava Foran, a member of Link, said that she first became acquainted with the program when she joined Unified sports, and, after joining the class senior year, has had a rewarding experience engaging further with TIPS.
“I just wanted to help kids who were trying to strengthen their skills, and it was just a really fun environment,” Foran said. “And I built really good relationships with the kids, which led me to join this program.”
Classes from across the school were able to visit the sale during their class periods, allowing the students and staff to shop together. Throughout the event, TIPS students played an active role in preparing the food and drinks, handling money and spreading holiday cheer.
Behind the scenes of this sale, they actually put it together for a greater purpose: giving back to the community. The money raised from the TIPS sale was used to fund the program’s participation in the Brighton Area Schools Christmas Elf program, a nonprofit organization that provides holiday gifts to children in need throughout the Brighton area.
“Giving back to the community felt good. We took the money we got and went to Target and had wish lists from the kids of what they wanted for Christmas, and we got those gifts,” Dempster said.
Through this effort, the TIPS program collectively filled the wishlists of three children in the Brighton area, helping to make their holiday season special this year.
“I feel like it’s really important to include everyone in the act of giving back. It made the kids really happy to be able to feel included and to do things that some people may not normally expect kids in TIPS to do,” junior Ivana Djuric, a member of the Link program, said. “It doesn’t matter who you are; you can always give back.”
