By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— To give back to the Pelham community this holiday season, Pelham High School’s Student Government Association is hosting a systemwide toy drive for Oak Mountain Missions.

“This group of kids is great to work with,” said Jessica Schach, one of the SGA sponsors. “They are very passionate about getting to do things like this and give back to their community.”

The students have wrapped four large boxes that have been placed in the offices of Valley Elementary, Valley Intermediate, Riverchase Middle and Pelham High schools.

Students can drop off any toys for any age or gender. Schach said the SGA will be gathering all the toys together by Dec. 8 when they will deliver the toys to Oak Mountain Missions in Pelham.

Schach said they will continue to accept donations after that time as well for those who donate later.

The SGA is also taking $300 to shop for toys to donate. The group will get together before Dec. 8 and go shopping for the items. After school Dec. 8, they will all go to Oak Mountain Missions to volunteer and help organize all the items.

“They really wanted to do something that involved providing for those kids that are less fortunate that might not be able to have a Christmas,” Schach said. “They really liked the idea of getting to shop and donate and doing to the toy drive to see if we could collect more items.”

Oak Mountain Missions is a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing, furniture and financial assistance to those in need in Shelby County and the greater Birmingham area.

Schach said many organizations and clubs at Pelham High work with Oak Mountain Missions, and that assistant director Dianne Cesario appreciates all the extra help PHS provides.

“It’ll be a great group activity for us to do, and Dianne is very great to work with too,” she said.