(Photo courtesy the Natural Helpers)

By Sydney Simpson – Editor-in-Chief

The Jonathan Law Natural Helpers club is now up and running, having had their first meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 21. 

The club meets every other Tuesday in advisor Ms. Smuniewski’s classroom, and anyone is welcome to come join. The next meeting will be on October 5 in Room 206. 

“The goals of the club this year are to bring the Law community together and to make sure that every student feels as if they have someone to talk to,” senior president Makenna Sharpe said. 

The Natural Helpers Club runs many events throughout the year intended to help the student body become more inclusive of each other, and to make sure that each student feels safe and respected. 

“During the week of October 4th, the Natural Helpers will be hosting different challenges and activities to encourage students to reach out to someone new that week,” Smuniewski said. “Be sure to tune into Eagle Eye News to find out how to participate.”

This “Start With Hello Week” is an event sponsored by the Sandy Hook Promise, which is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent violence from occurring in schools. In addition to the powerful programs they run, The Sandy Hook Promise advocates for policy changes, gives students a way to have their voices heard, and more. 

Junior Aislinn Burns was selected this summer to be one of the 13 high school students across the country on the National Youth Advisory board for Sandy Hook Promise. 

“As a YABer, I meet with the other students and advisors, help plan events, and help the organization by using my voice to reach more people and promote change,” Burns said. “When advocating to prevent violence in schools, the student’s voices are the most powerful which is why the Advisory Board is there to represent students across the country to voice concerns/opinions that may not always be heard.”

Aside from the Sandy Hook Promise, the Natural Helpers club initiates other acts of kindness and activities around the school to help achieve their mission. 

“The Natural Helpers have sent kindness cards to hospital staff during the height of the pandemic, run ‘lunch bunch’ meetings for students who may wish to eat their lunch somewhere more quiet, hosted Google Meets for students who wanted to interact with new people, and organized that annual De-Stress fest right before final exams,” Smuniewski said.

There are many reasons to join Natural Helpers, such as having the opportunity to help out peers who may be feeling stressed, down, or overwhelmed. 

“To me the most important aspect of the club is learning the skills to be a good listener and communicator,” senior vice president Mackenzie Powers said. “I think it is very important to learn the warning signs, so you can potentially save lives.”