Chargers for Change (C4C), a Shelton student organization comprising 25 high school students whose mission is to positively impact school and community through voices, service and resources, is back in action for the 2016-17 school year.  C4C recently completed a book drive benefiting Reading Partners, a division of United Way.  Students collected 1,700 books through Shelton’s high school division.

Their current activity is a campaign to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.  Members created a bulletin board  about the campaign. Students are exploring different resources for information on the topics, including guest speakers.

Officers are Caroline Farish, Griffin DeDiego, Alex Anderson, Penn Eichorn, Adam Winn, Anna Cramm, Chaney Wood, Kallie Galvan and Andrew Redd.

Junior Alex Anderson, who promotes C4C projects says, “Would YOU know what to do if you suspected someone was suicidal?  We’re hoping to help end the stigma attached to mental health issues.”

C4C was founded as a means of teaching philanthropy to students at an early age.  It was originally funded by John and Carol Levy (parents of Shelton graduate Allen Levy) with a gift through the Dallas Foundation.

New this year for C4C is a mentor program, in which its officers, along with school administration, assist Shelton freshmen with junior or senior mentors.  Jennifer Eckert is the faculty sponsor of the group.