Warren East High School
High School, 4 students
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Students across the country are stepping up to solve real challenges in their communities. At Warren East High School, a team of students saw a need and took action—demonstrating the power of compassion, problem-solving, and collaboration. Their project, Warren East FCCLA Cares, is a testament to what’s possible when young leaders take charge.
The Need:
Students set out to support teens entering foster care by creating a resource closet in partnership with Heritage Children’s Services, a local foster agency. The agency told them their foster care population had tripled and resources were in short supply. Their goal: to collect 800 essential items—ranging from hygiene products to clothing to shoes. The team benefited from personal connections to the cause: their adviser had recently fostered a student, and one member had experienced foster care themselves. They understood firsthand the urgent needs and costs that come with making a placement successful—from basic supplies to creating a sense of comfort and belonging. Since Heritage Children’s Services serves only teens within the school district, the project would directly impact their peers and classmates.
The Project:
The team initiated contact and conducted in-person visits with Heritage Children’s Services to better understand the agency’s needs. They assessed the space available for storage and helped plan how to organize and distribute the donated goods efficiently. To support the effort, they launched an Amazon Wish List, giving community members an easy way to donate specific items. They also hosted a fundraiser night at a local Panera, where a percentage of the evening’s proceeds went toward the cause. A school-wide donation drive brought in new and gently used items, and a weekly Thursday sno-cone sale offered students a fun, affordable way to contribute.
The Results:
The students not only met their original goal—they surpassed it. In total, they collected over 1,000 items that will support more than 100 teens and new foster families in transition. The team didn’t just drop off the items, but worked to organize and label the new resources setting it up like a retail store where students and families could shop. With their efforts, the team secured a $5,000 Lead4Change grant, which will be used to purchase additional resources and storage materials to help create three to five more Care Closets throughout the community—multiplying the impact of their original idea.
Empowering Students to Lead with Purpose
These students didn’t just have a great idea—they had the leadership skills to bring it to life. That’s exactly what Lead4Change is all about.
Lead4Change is a free leadership curriculum that helps middle and high school students:
✅ Identify real needs in their communities
✅ Develop creative solutions
✅ Take meaningful action
Just like the students behind Warren East FCCLA Cares, your students have the potential to create real change—they just need the right tools.
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Help your students lead, serve, and make a difference with our free, ready-to-use curriculum.
Every student has the potential to be a great leader who gets big things done. Lead4Change unlocks that potential—empowering them to see a problem, take action, and create lasting impact in their communities.
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