During my time as a Governor’s Page, I learned about civics, state government, I met some of the leaders of North Carolina’s executive and judicial branches, and I learned more about volunteering and how to make an impact in my community through services projects.

Over the summer, I discussed different ideas for a collection drive with one of the teachers from my school and did research to find out who I could help the most through this collection drive.

In collaboration with Cleveland County Rescue Mission’s Battered Women’s Shelter and my school, Cleveland Early College High School, I ran a drive that collected cleaning supplies for the shelter that helped promote sanitation and better health for all the women and children living there. This is what was donated: • 69 rolls of paper towels • 74 rolls of toilet paper • 1.7 gallons of toilet cleaner • 2.5 gallons of floor cleaner • 15 scrub pads • 1 bottle of hand soap • 1 bottle of dish detergent • 126 laundry pods

This drive helped the women and children living at the Battered Women’s Shelter to have a sanitary place to sleep at night and to promote overall mental health. No one does well in an unclean and unsanitary environment and the collection drive I ran at my school collected paper towels, toilet paper, toilet cleaner, floor cleaner, laundry pods, scrub pads, hand soap, and dish soap that can be used to keep the shelter clean. When I brought the supplies into the shelter, the Women’s Coordinator, Adjoa Boateng, was so overjoyed that she gave me a hug! Clearly, my school and I made a profound impact on the residents of that shelter!