Sterling High School

FBLA Fellows for

Goodfellows
Jasmine Bates, Debi Schmidt and Morgan Simpson

USD 376 Sterling High School

Table of Contents
Purpose of Project 2

Planning, Development and Implementation of Project 4

Impacts and Benefits 6

Evidence of Publicity 6

Evaluation of Project 7

Purpose of the Project

Picture this, a family facing Christmas, without presents around the tree or food to serve at their
table. Picture a small group of young teens, passionate about serving others and giving back to
the community that they dearly love. This was the picture that Sterling High School Future
Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members Jasmine Bates, Debi Schmidt and Morgan
Simpson recognized and wanted to have an impact on. They partnered with the Southern Rice
County Goodfellows organization to assist.

1
 Defining the Problem

Sterling, Kansas is nestled in the Southern part of Rice County, with a population just
under 2,300. According to the United States Census Bureau report Rice County’s
Average Income for families living in poverty is $46,335 per year, which is lower than
the state average of $53,571.

Statement of Project Goals

● The purpose of the project was to donate toys, daily necessities, canned
goods and the manpower needed to organize and deliver all of these
packages to families.

Service Provided to the

Community and Citizens

2
Goodfellows in Southern Rice County was started in 1940 by a group of
bankers who saw the struggle of families in the community and decided to
take action. This year, Goodfellows helped 75 families ranging from single
people to families of six. Things included in the box are toiletries, a Christmas
ham, potatoes, milk, eggs, bread, as well as canned goods. FBLA teamed up
with local community businesses to help fill these 75 boxes and ensure
families did not go without during the holiday.

Planning, Development and Implementation

● In mid-October, Morgan Simpson met with Nancy Inwood, Chairman of

the Southern Rice County Goodfellows organization to evaluate the
needs the local FBLA chapter could meet.
● It was determined that the greatest area of impact members were
capable of, aside from collaborating with the Sterling High School DFYIT
Organization to donate goods and supplies, was the manpower the SHS
FBLA members could provide organizing, packing and delivering boxes
for recipients.
● Members Jasmine Bates, Debi
Schmidt and Morgan Simpson
then approached Principal Dr. Bill
Anderson seeking permission for
members to be allowed out of
classes on December 13th, 2017
to assist Goodfellows.
● It was important for the organizers

3
 to have 100% participation as a chapter, instilling the desire to give back
to their community and those in need during the holidays.
● On December 10th, Morgan Simpson met with the twenty members of
FBLA to discuss the expectations of the volunteers and the importance
of assisting Goodfellows to accomplish their goal of filling and
distributing 75 boxes.
● As a reminder on the day of the event, text messages were sent to
members
prior to
school
reminding
them.
● Dr. Anderson,
Principal of
SHS
transported
students to
Studio 96, the
headquarters
of Southern
Rice County
Goodfellows.
● Students were divided into sections and proceeded to unload the
Dillons delivery truck filled with food, organized and counted food
donations into categories, equally filling boxes with food and labeling
them for delivery.
● The Saturday prior to Christmas, members came back to help deliver
the 75 boxes throughout Sterling.

4
Impacts and Benefits
Without the manpower provided by the Sterling FBLA chapter, Southern Rice County
Goodfellows would not have been able to complete the project without putting an added stress
on the community of Sterling. The hours of sweat equity donated by the members was well
worth it when they were able to brighten a child’s Christmas and lighten the pressures of life for
the adult recipients.

Evidence of Publicity

5
Evaluation of the Project
The organizers of the project were pleased with the 100% participation from their chapter, as
well as the effort and efficiency with which members assisted the Goodfellows group while
packing and distributing. Ways that they saw to improve were better publicity prior to and after
the event. While they were not seeking praise or recognition for their kindness and compassion,
publically putting their event out there would have raised awareness for their cause and could
have potentially collected more resources for the Southern Rice County Goodfellows.