Throughout the year students at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology have helped raise money for Feeding America/Philabundance.

This week local officers from SkillsUSA, EASTERN’s student leadership organization, presented a check to a Philabundance representative at the school for over $700.

The check was presented to Evan Post, who said the money would equate to 1,500 meals for those in need around the area.

SkillsUSA chooses a community service project each year in which all Pennsylvania chapters can participate. This year’s initiative was Feeding America, which is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief charity.

Students conducted raffles at their Leadership Conference in November, and also participated in a “Coin War” in October to help raise money.

An additional $533 was raised through a fundraiser where each EASTERN program was invited to build a scarecrow and have it displayed at a pizza social held at the school. Students, faculty and staff placed coins in a jar for the designs they liked the best, and dollars if they wanted to negate points.

“I am proud to be part of this worthwhile effort,” said Miranda Cooper, SkillsUSA School Wide Secretary for EASTERN’s afternoon session, and Allied Health student from Abington High School. “It is nice to see our hard work paying off and bringing some relief to those who need it.”

Each year SkillsUSA Pennsylvania chooses a community service projects in which all Pennsylvania chapters can participate. The 2012 – 2013 initiative was Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.