Club and nonprofit organization So What Else? hopes to raise $10,000 this month for food for underprivileged families at an Oct. 18 Ledo’s Pizza fundraiser.
School club So What Else? is headed by dual presidents sophomore Jilli Nalibotsky and senior Daniel Son, in addition vice presidents junior Ashi Stanislaus and senior Matthew Repie. The club has thus far focused on providing edible aid, with groceries or canned goods being popular donations. “We hold a new fundraiser every month supporting underprivileged families,” Stanislaus said.
For October, the club is holding a $10,000 fundraiser. The club intends to raise the money through grassroots marketing in club meetings and at promotional events. The proceeds will be sent to the nonprofit, where the money will be spent on food, materials and future events. Stanislaus urges members and non-members to donate to their cause.
Fundraisers aren’t the club’s only concern, though; club officers have volunteered at food pantries, too, according to Stanislaus. She hopes to hold similar events in the future where members can sign up to volunteer. In September, Nalibotsky and Son organized a food drive. Food acquired by the club, like the goods donated in the September drive, are delivered to the So What Else? nonprofit organization. The nonprofit then distributes the food to local food pantries where underprivileged families can collect what they need. So What Else? club sponsor Mia Krawczel said, “I think it’s important to consider what more we can do to give back to underprivileged families – like raising money, donating clothes, and providing food.”
Creating the club wasn’t difficult. Because the nonprofit wanted to expand their outreach to high schools, they reached out to club president Nalibotsky and provided the officers with all of the materials necessary to manage So What Else?. With a system that directly connects the club to the nonprofit, management became much easier. Stanislaus said, “[So What Else?] wanted to have a branch at every MCPS high school.”
Members of So What Else? feel good about what they’re doing; the club’s mission to aid underprivileged families seem to resonate with its members. Junior Alex Foster said, “I like what the club stands for because it helps people in need and makes a positive impact on people’s lives.”
With efforts from its outgoing officers, the club acquired 115 members at So What Else?’s christening at the school’s club expo, surpassing their expectations. Krawczel said, “A lot of students were interested right away, and I think it’s largely due to our active board members.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 18, the club held a fundraiser at Ledo’s Pizza in Travilah. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be added to the club’s October goal of $10,000. Stanislaus said, “We’re so excited for our Ledo’s fundraiser. Please come support us.”
So What Else? has plans in store for the future, too. In addition to fundraisers, Nalibotsky said the club plans to host a canned food drive in November and a toy drive in December, adding, “We don’t only focus on food.”
