Stafford National Honor Society seeks city help with uniform and hygiene drive; council agrees to let city host boxes and promote

Student leaders from the Stafford Municipal School District National Honor Society (NHS) described a fourth annual uniform-and-hygiene drive to the City Council on June 18 and asked for city support.

Jose Romero, Stafford NHS advisor, introduced student officers including Adrian Espinosa (vice president) and Nicole Cortez (president), who outlined the drive's goals: collect 800 uniforms and raise $5,000 to assemble hygiene bags that will be distributed at the district's Party at the Plaza event in August. Cortez said each hygiene bag costs roughly $6'$9 to assemble and that the NHS had previously distributed more than 700 uniforms in a prior year. Students described an outreach plan that included over 20 donation boxes at local businesses and requested the city's assistance to expand reach.

The students asked council help in three ways: (1) monetary donations (the students said checks and cash are accepted and that donations are processed through the high school business office), (2) promoting the drive on city multimedia channels such as SME TV and social media, and (3) allowing donation boxes inside City Hall, the Stafford Center and the Civic Center. The students said donated money would be used to purchase uniform items and hygiene products for distribution; the NHS said donated checks should be made to the Stafford National Honor Society or Stafford High School (attention: National Honor Society).

Council discussion clarified that the city is legally prohibited from making a direct monetary donation to the student group but that individual council members could donate. After discussion, a council member moved that the city do everything it was able to do to support the NHS drive, specifically including placing donation boxes at City Hall, Stafford Center and the Civic Center and promoting the drive via city multimedia channels; the motion passed. Council members individually pledged personal donations during the public comments portion.

Staff and students said donation checks will be processed through the high school business office and that the NHS would provide receipts and donation letters. The students requested donations be collected through early August so they can wash and package uniforms ahead of the Party at the Plaza distribution.

The council's approved motion allowed non-monetary city support (facilities and promotional channels) for the NHS campaign; no direct city cash contribution was authorized.