Gettysburg Area School District social worker highlights Warrior Week 2 Wishes, which will help about 200 students this year

Jennifer Weigel, district social worker for the Gettysburg Area School District, described Warrior Week 2 Wishes, a holiday assistance program she started six years ago that serves mostly secondary students.

"Warrior Week 2 Wishes is a program that I started 6 years ago," Weigel said, explaining the program’s focus on students ages 12 and up because "there aren't a lot of community programs for those students or for their age, especially for the holidays." She said students receive hygiene items, clothing and toys, and that families can also receive food bags.

Weigel named a local partner, Kenny's Market, saying the store "offer[s] us a donation to help us pay for a variety of food that we can give out to our families," and added that community members and district staff help cover the cost of food bags.

Brooke Myers, a senior at Gettysburgher High School who volunteers with the program, said the experience has shown her the scope of need in the community. "Being a part of this program has let me realize just how many families I'm able to impact this holiday season," she said. Myers added, "No matter how much people are able to give, every little bit makes a difference in people's lives."

Weigel said the program grows every year and that "this year we are helping approximately 200 students." The transcript does not include a date for this presentation.

Organizers described the program as reliant on donations and volunteer support rather than a formal district budget allocation; the announcement in the transcript did not include details about funding amounts, distribution dates or a timeline for collection and distribution.