When you think of after-school clubs, you might picture STEM, theater, or National Honor Society. But at Erie High, one club is gaining recognition for something bigger with real impact.
The American Red Cross Club at Erie High, a United Way Community School, began with an idea from Erie High CTE teacher Mr. Jason Fink. After traveling to Florida to assist with hurricane cleanup efforts, Jason returned with a new perspective. Through continued conversations with the Northwestern PA Red Cross Chapter, and his strong relationships with students, he saw an opportunity to bring something meaningful to Erie High. To bring the idea to life, Jason connected with Glen Conner Jr.,United Way Community School Director at Erie High.
For Glen, the mission felt personal.
“In college, I built first aid kits that were donated to our local Red Cross and included in care packages for displaced families. Those experiences showed me how valuable the American Red Cross is to a community, and how impactful a club like this could be for Erie High students.”
Today, the club stands as the first and only Red Cross Club at the high school level in Western Pennsylvania.
At the school’s first Activities Fair, organized by United Way Community School Directors, students explored new opportunities to get involved. The Red Cross Club quickly filled, faster than expected, showing just how strong the interest in service and leadership was.
Since then, students have taken full ownership:
- They organized a food and clothing drive benefiting the Mercy Center for Women.
- They created Christmas and Valentine’s Day cards for veterans.
- And they led one of their most impactful efforts, a sickle cell awareness campaign paired with two blood drives aimed at increasing donor diversity.
The results of the sickle cell awareness campaign were powerful:
- 80 donors across two drives, including 30 donors of minority descent.
- Their work even gained attention on Erie News Now and JET24.
“Being in the Red Cross Club at Erie High has made me more aware of the needs of others. I feel more confident in emergency situations and more connected to my community. It’s given me a sense of purpose and the satisfaction of knowing I’m making a difference,” shared one Erie High student.
For Jason, the club represents something even larger. “This club is laying the foundation for other clubs to become more student-led,” he said.
What started as a conversation quickly became a powerful example of collaboration. By aligning their efforts, Mr. Fink and Glen demonstrated the strength of partnership between Erie’s Public Schools and United Way Community Schools, bringing new opportunities to students and reinforcing the value of the Community School Model.