Shop & Share Brings the Community Together to Support Local Families

The 16th annual 9United Shop & Share brought together members of the community to help those in need this holiday season. Each year, the nonprofit 9United raises money for local families and charities, including IPM Food Pantry and Jack’s Closet. The holidays can be a difficult time for families with the cost of purchasing gifts for their children. Shop & Share aims to help ease the burden and take away some of the stress associated with this time of year. Thanks to the generosity of our students and their families, FHSD helped raise more than $18,000 for this year’s Shop & Share. When combining these contributions with community donations, 9United raised more than $25,000.

9United’s collection event began in November and culminated with the Community Shopping Night at the Beechmont Target on December 6. Everyone in the community was invited to purchase items for local families in need using donated funds. Anderson Township Fire and Rescue were present as well with their annual toy drive.

One of the main ways 9United raised money was through the coin collection in all six FHSD elementary schools and Nagel Middle School. The Coin Wars, or Clash of the Quarters as some schools called it, collected donations starting in mid-November. Nagel also got creative with a dodgeball tournament, Karaoke for a Cause and other activities to help raise money. 

Anderson and Turpin High Schools contributed to Shop & Share with a gift drive. Students and staff collected items for Jack’s Closet, a local organization that provides clothes and other items to families in need. Additionally, all community members had the opportunity to get involved in Shop & Share by fulfilling a wish list for an FHSD student and their family. They could request a wish list from 9United to shop and directly support community members in need. 

9United is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students and families in FHSD and the surrounding communities. The Shop & Share fundraiser helps ease the stress of the holidays but it also provides sustainability for 9United’s programs that support students all year long, including grants and birthday bundles. Learn more about 9United and how the organization positively impacts the FHSD community.