MISD Connect Inspiring Excellence

As the holiday season approaches, student groups across Midlothian ISD are stepping up to give back to their community through a variety of service projects and initiatives. From organizing food drives and collecting items for those in need, to volunteering locally, these students are embodying the spirit of "We are Family." Their efforts not only make a difference in the lives of others but also foster a sense of unity and compassion within the district. These acts of kindness serve as a reminder of the power of community and the importance of helping others.

Every month, Midlothian and Heritage FFA host a community service event to give back to the community. During the month of November, members collected socks to donate to local nursing homes. FFA members delivered the donations during a recent visit with residents at local Midlothian nursing facilities. Students said it was a joy to gift the residents with the socks and spend a little bit of time getting to know them.

MHS Panther Baseball teamed up with MANNA House to help bring Angel Trees to life. The Panther Baseball players organized and stocked items, assisted with gift selections, wrapped gifts, loaded cars and helped spread Holiday Cheer. This was a great opportunity for these young men to get involved in helping others in our community and giving back. We are extremely grateful to MANNA House for allowing our students to work alongside them.

Baxter Student Council sponsored a drive to “Stuff the Stockings” with goodies and essentials to benefit the Ellis County Homeless Coalition. We thank all our Baxter families who donated items to help our community. The Ellis County Homeless Coalition is a community action group of concerned citizens and organizations dedicated to raising awareness, preventing homelessness and developing affordable housing in Ellis County. They are part of the Texas Homeless Network organization.

The Heritage Belles and Rubies collected items and assembled 250 essential care kits for the victims of Hurricane Helene.

They also donated $7,800 to Heroes for Children. This donation, made possible by the sales from HHS Gold Out shirts, will support families in the DFW area who are battling childhood cancers.

Bikes 4 Tykes provides an opportunity to give back to the community. Since 2015, Panther Baseball has taken great pride in partnering with Texas Ace HVAC to provide new bicycles to MANNA House ahead of the Christmas Holidays. This year, 60 bicycles were donated.

The JCE Sock Drive was a great success thanks to the generosity of Coleman families. The drive will benefit and warm many local hearts (and toes!) this season. The boxes were overflowing - thank you to the MISD community for showing the true spirit of giving.

The Midlothian High School Pantherettes visited Midlothian Meadows to spread Christmas Cheer to all the residents. The Pantherettes made new friends and spread a little joy as they celebrated the holiday season with a dance performance. The also sang and helped polish residents nails during the visit.

Midlothian High School athletic trainers teamed up with J.D. Shields, the athletic trainer liaison from Baylor, Scott & White Sportscare, to collect donations for Meals on Wheels. Their efforts will help support the organizations efforts to reduce food insecurity among aging residents living in the Midlothian area.

Student-athletes in the Heritage High School tennis program held a collection drive for Manna House. The team delivered an assortment of items to Manna House and spent time at their warehouse on December 10 to help organize and sort yearly donations in preparation for its annual holiday drive.

Midlothian High School softball participated in Wreaths Across America, a national event held each December to honor and remember our veterans by adorning the National Cemetery with holiday wreaths. The wreaths are placed on graves of veterans and active-duty military members at cemeteries, memorials, and historic sites across the United States and abroad. The Wreaths Across America organization's mission is to honor those who serve, remember the fallen, and teach the value of freedom to the next generation.

Walnut Grove Middle School National Junior Honor Society members volunteered at Midtowne Assisted Living and Memory Care of Midlothian, where they spent quality time with residents. Students and their parents engaged in a variety of activities including putting puzzles together, coloring, reading, and creating fall crafts. A special thank you to Dede Muñoz for providing this opportunity to give back to our MISD community.

The Walnut Grove Girls' Athletic Program adopted an Angel Tree family for Christmas. The girls poured out their hearts by donating gifts, gift cards and monetary donations for their adopted Angel Tree family.

Walnut Grove Middle School Student Council participated in a food drive benefiting Manna House and crafted handmade blankets for residents at a local nursing facility, spreading warmth and care to their residents.

The Destination Imagination team, D.I. MAXION, partnered with the local nonprofit TEAM UP 2 GEAR UP to collect gently used sporting equipment and clothing for children in need. The team has been gathering items such as soccer cleats, old uniforms, team jerseys, practice gear, and other sports-related items. Their goal is to make youth sports more accessible to all youth, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate and enjoy physical activity.

Heritage Baseball, in partnership with Drake Athletics, is making a meaningful impact this holiday season by donating toys to children in need across the Uvalde area.

Mt. Peak Elementary hosted its second annual Empty Bowls project this holiday season, benefiting Manna House. This year, the project expanded to include all grade levels, with students crafting beautiful clay bowls in their art classes. The handmade bowls were sold to raise funds, and the effort was a tremendous success, raising over $1,580.

The National Junior Honor Society at Dieterich Middle School has been busy this fall collecting socks and blankets to donate to the Midlothian Senior Citizen Center.

Longbranch Elementary Honor Council students organized and promoted a food drive benefiting Manna House.

The City of Midlothian Christmas Light Up Parade was canceled due to weather, but we still want to celebrate! The MISD Transportation team spent many hours transforming a school bus into The Grinch, and Ms. Preston and MHS art students brought the MISD Express to life.