Heritage Middle School DI Team Launches Holiday Service Projects to Support Local Children and Families

Valdese, NC — A team of innovative students from Heritage Middle School is stepping up this holiday season with a pair of community-focused service projects as part of their work with Destination Imagination (DI), an international nonprofit that provides STEAM-based creative problem-solving competitions for K–12 students around the world.

The Heritage Middle School team is competing in DI’s Service Learning Challenge, a rigorous program that requires students to blend traditional STEAM concepts—science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics—with hands-on community service. Their goal: use creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork to make a tangible difference in their community.

Team Manager Mike McQuaid says Destination Imagination offers lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.
“DI is an incredible program for students to participate in because it teaches them to think critically, become creative problem solvers, and the future innovators that our society needs to solve real-world issues and concerns,” McQuaid explained.

To maximize their impact, the team has partnered with M.A.P. (The Mountain Aid Project), a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community through crisis relief and long-term support initiatives. According to its mission, M.A.P. aims to “foster inclusivity and drive change through the power of people, art, environment, & education.”

Together, the team and M.A.P. are coordinating two major drives:

Holiday Gift Drive for Children in DSS Custody
The DI team is collecting new clothing and toys for orphaned and foster children in the custody of the Department of Social Services.
“Kids in DSS custody do not always get presents during the holidays and are often forgotten about,” said team member Magnolia. “So it’s important to do this small service and act of kindness for children in foster care.”
The gift drive runs through December 18.

Taco Food Drive for Local Families
The students are also gathering ingredients for M.A.P.’s community food kitchen, which regularly provides taco meals to families in need. Donations being collected include:
meat, rice, taco seasoning, hard and soft taco shells, cheese, salsa, and beans.
“The taco food drive is important to those who have lost jobs and cannot provide healthy meals for their family,” said team member Knox.
The food drive continues through January 31.

How to Donate
Community members wishing to support either initiative can drop off new clothing, new toys, required taco food items, or financial contributions at Heritage Middle School in Valdese, NC.

To learn more about Destination Imagination and its STEAM-based competitions, visit www.wearencdi.com.

Through creativity, compassion, and collaboration, the Heritage Middle School Destination Imagination team is proving that young people can spark big change—one idea, one act of service, and one family at a time.