Charity Week, organized by Student Council, included daily events and raised over $2,000 for the Developmental Assets Resource Network. The campaign began Monday, Nov. 17, and concluded with the Clash of the Classes assembly Tuesday, Nov. 25. In addition to the week of events, a food drive took place from Monday, Nov. 3, to Friday, Nov. 21.
Student Council Executive Board member Naomi Baker said the idea for Charity Week began in a brainstorming session between her and the other Student Council Executive Board members.
“We spent two and a half hours in Starbucks, and we figured out what we wanted to do and why we wanted to do it,” she said.
The week began with an auction that ran from Monday, Nov. 17, through the following Monday, Nov. 24.
Student Council Executive Board member Rachel Lybarger explained teachers entered different items for students to bid on, such as a free yearbook or use of a parking spot.
The next event was Tuesday, Nov. 18, when students could pay $1 for a piece of tape to help tape Principal Jason Caudill to the cafeteria wall.
Sophomore Class Vice President Jonah Davis said the event was an effective and engaging way to raise money.
“It was such a good idea that got a lot of people excited,” he said. “The fact that so many people participated made it so much better.”
Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19, students competed in a hallway decorating contest for points at the Clash of Classes assembly.
Lybarger explained the class officers from each grade were in charge of choosing a movie theme and decorating their assigned hallway accordingly.
On Friday, Nov. 21, Student Council hosted a Jeopardy night and bake sale in the high school library.
Lybarger explained they raised money by charging a fee to participate and selling baked goods at the event.
“People were intrigued and willing to come and support while also just having fun,” she said. “That meant a lot to us, so I think that was a success in my eyes.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 25, students made holiday cards in their second period classes to donate to charity.
Lybarger said the cards were donated to Cards for Hospitalized Kids, an organization that distributes letters to kids in children’s hospitals.
Baker explained the cards were a way for everyone to participate without having to spend anything.
“We wanted to do something that wasn’t attached to money, so creating holiday cards was an easy way for students to get involved,” she explained.
Social studies teacher Anna Schottenstein directed and organized the food drive that took place throughout November in conjunction with Charity Week.
Each class and staff members competed to see who could donate the
most canned goods, and each grade received points at Clash of Classes accordingly.
Combined, students and staff brought in a total of 2,057 items to be donated to DARN. The senior class donated the most, a total of 553 items.
Schottenstein explained the food drive was the perfect opportunity to come together as a community, especially when prices for basic necessities are especially high.
“DARN has had more families than ever reach out for additional assistance, whether that be with ensuring they can pay bills or still have heat in the winter,” she said.
Schottenstein said students might not know the full impact their donations can have even within their own classrooms.
She added she had no idea what to expect from the food drive in the beginning, but she considered the event to be a huge success.
“It picked up in the last couple days, and it is remarkable the amount that students are able to bring in and help,” she said.
The week ended with the annual Fall Clash of the Classes assembly in the high school gym, organized by math teacher Keary Ryan and Student Council.
The seniors won with 32 points, the juniors came in second with 28 points, the sophomores came in third with 25 points and the freshmen came in last with 17 points.
Ryan said he believes giving students an opportunity to manage the event is the key to its success.
“I think it’s important to let kids be the leaders,” he said. “Bexley is such a great place where I can delegate leadership responsibilities, and kids get it done.”
Published and Digitized December 2025.
