Highmeadow Junior Optimists Start the Year with Candy Collection

Eight-year-old Highmeadow Common Campus student Rani Dhiman wanted to do something nice for soldiers overseas. 

A member of the school's Junior Optimist Club, she decided to organize a school-wide collection of leftover Halloween candy. Club members and parents sorted the candy and shipped it out last month, along with dental care supplies and letters from the students thanking soldiers for their service. 

"I thought that they should get the time to celebrate Halloween, they should get some treats," Rani said. "I talked to my mom about it, and she said that's a great idea." 

It's the kind of community service project that typifies the Junior Optimist clubs, which Farmington/Farmington Hills Optimist Club hope to launch in every Farmington area school, including parochial schools. Each club has an Optimist advisor, and the program stresses parent involvement. 

Optimist Tom Neal said the main goal is community service, but students also get some leadership training as they elect club officers and manage projects. 

"The middle school kids get more involved in running their meetings, and the high school kids just take off," Neal said. 

Junior Optimists were standing at the door of the Farmington Civic Theater last Saturday, helping to collect money, nonperishable food items and toys for the Farmington Area Goodfellows holiday drive. They've brought cookies to residents in senior housing, run fundraising drives and helped create mini-libraries to increase access to books and encourage reading. 

"We're all about kids, and trying to help kids in any which way we can," Neal said. "And it's fun." 

Kids can still join the clubs at their schools; Neal said Optimists like to get everyone signed up by the end of January. A $15 fee covers the cost of a Junior Optimist t-shirt and activities. 

To sign up, visit f2hjunioroptimists.org.