Oak View students learn to serve others
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

HELPING OUT—George Annino, right, greets students from Oak View High School who are donating to the annual Santa Comes to Agoura fundraiser. The students raised more than $1,700 for the project that benefits low-income families.

Oak View High School students donated $1,700 last month to the Santa Comes to Agoura project, more than double last year’s total, and this week they purchased and delivered a truckload of gifts to a San Fernando Valley school that serves severely handicapped children.

Community service is embraced by Oak View students and principal Lou Tabone said other charitable projects are already being planned.

“Everyone understands that it’s important, and everyone’s happy to give,” said Alex Feuer, 18, an Oak View senior and drive organizer. “Everyone deserves to have a good Thanksgiving.”

Student government members ran a cash donation drive among students, parents and Oak Park Unified School District office staff. Students dubbed the drive the Turkey Walk for Local Needy Families because it was held just prior to Thanksgiving.

The collection program culminated in students walking from the Oak Park school to Oak Canyon Park where the check was presented to Santa Comes to Agoura coordinator George Annino. The annual collection program provides food yearround to area families in need.

“I was blown away by what these kids did. The generosity of the community is phenomenal,” Annino said. “That’s the true meaning of the holiday season–– giving with no strings attached.”

This was Oak View’s second year to run the drive. Last year’s campaign raised about $800.

“Everyone’s more than happy to give right out of their own pockets. They didn’t go to their parents to ask for money,” said Gary Doyle, 17, a senior at Oak View who helped run the drive.

Gary used earnings from his job at Pavilions in Westlake to buy a holiday gift for another Oak View service project. For the past 14 years students have participated in a holiday gift drive for severely handicapped children at the West Valley School in Van Nuys.

The West Valley School submits a list of their disadvantaged students’ specific gift requests. Oak View students “adopt” one or more of the children and purchase gifts for them. Oak View students boarded a rented bus Tuesday to personally deliver the presents.

“We make it a special day for our students and the students in need at West Valley,” said Oak View instructor Susan Allen.

For Gary, the drive is especially meaningful.

“When I was younger I didn’t get gifts because my dad was going through a hard time. It’s important for kids to get gifts and feel people care for them,” Gary said.

A parent made the suggestion for the project during a parent/ teacher conference with former Oak View educator Christine Brown.

Although Brown retired five years ago, she continues to donate

gifts for the children, according to instructor Randi Liepman, who now oversees the project.

“It has always been a wonderful experience, and I look forward to it every year,” Liepman said.

“Oak View High School is committed to developing good citizenship skills and instilling a sense of giving back to those less fortunate in our community,” Tabone said. “Beyond our focus on academic achievement, character counts at Oak View High School.”