Anyone looking to spread birthday cheer to a neighbor in need will have the chance to do so thanks to an initiative from Taylorville High School’s National Honor Society chapter.  It’s called the Birthday in a Bag drive, and it’s scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, during the boys basketball team’s home game against Effingham.  They are collecting birthday cake makings to load into bags and donate to the Taylorville Food Pantry.

Ella Reiss and Josie Heberling are students in the NHS chapter; Heberling serves as the chapter’s president.  They say this is an annual tradition and are aiming for a record-breaking haul this time. 

The Taylorville Food Pantry and local assisted living facilities are frequent beneficiaries of the NHS chapter’s service work.  They also hold events for other current and future high school students.

This event and the many others the chapter organizes follow their four pillars of scholarship, character, leadership, and service.  Members not only uphold the values while part of the organization but must also demonstrate them beforehand to be recruited. 

For chapter advisor Christine Rivecco, she says these values demonstrate to the members how to live their lives not just while in the National Honor Society, but afterwards, as well.

Birthday in a Bag comes as the chapter is preparing to search for its next set of members.  The process begins this month, with the new members inducted in April. 

More information on Taylorville High School is available at ths.tcusd3.org. 

Josie Heberling, Ella Reiss, and Christine Rivecco appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show as part of our monthly Taylorville Schools Good News Segment.