Cinco de Mayo: Spanish Club kick-starts donation opportunities

Cinco de Mayo means more than a simple calendar date; it commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Though a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture in the United States. To celebrate this day, Homestead’s Spanish Club threw a fiesta in honor of local ties with Mexican culture.

With various treats provided by Sra. Helen Caldwell and Sra. Allison de Garza, the club got down to business. “Spanish Club is more than just throwing fiestas.  We like to give back to the community and help others too,” Becca Levshetz, senior and co-president, said.

In the midst of quesadillas and piñatas, the Spanish Club and its co-presidents, Maddie Fricker and Becca Levshetz, seniors, have kick-started a donation opportunity in the community. They have been working with Notre Dame Schools of Milwaukee, a Catholic primary and middle school dedicated to serving underprivileged Latino children, to collect toy donations for the students.

As the weather gets warmer, students attending Notre Dame Schools of Milwaukee are in need of toys to enjoy and play with at recess. Fricker and Levshetz ask all members of Spanish Club and any others to donate jump ropes, dodge balls, big rubber balls and any other toys for the students at Notre Dame. “Please grab something at your house or make a trip to the store because everyone at Notre Dame would really appreciate it!” Fricker said.

Although the collection date is currently to be determined, the Cinco de Mayo festivities at Homestead marked the beginning of this partnership between two Milwaukee-area schools.