LHS Cadet Corps kicks off Back the Blue squad challenge
The Lassen High School Cadet Corps’ most recent Back the Blue squad challenge is aimed to show appreciation for local law enforcement through boxes filled with treats and notes of appreciation.
Starting this month, five squads of the local Cadet Corps chapter, 7th Battalion, 6th Brigade, are battling each other to fill up a box with thank you cards and treats, which will be given to officers at the Susanville Police Department, Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol. This challenge will take place every month through December, with 15 local officers receiving the boxes by the end of the year.
The squad with the most packed box wins a prize.
According to S5 Katrina Davenport, LHS junior, the idea for the challenge was brought up by the commander and agreed upon by the class.
After an at-times tumultuous summer across the country, the class wanted to show support for local officers and Back the Blue, making this challenge a perfect fit.
“All of the local agencies, since we’ve started, have been so supportive,” Commandant of Cadets and English teacher Rachel Vincent added. “We wanted to show our support to them and we wanted to show a fraction of what they give us, to our community and our school.”
Through the challenge, squad leaders have to get creative about how they fill their boxes.
They will be placed in areas around campus where students can add to them, but squad leaders can get inventive. Some have already placed the boxes at Diamond View Middle School, or in the front office where everyone, not just students, can donate.
The cadets are seeking items including treats, energy drinks, thank you cards, pictures, letters, jerky, gift cards or similar items to fill the appreciation challenge boxes.
Community members who are interested in donating to the boxes can drop items off at the LHS front office, Vincent said.
If there are any questions, call Vincent at 251-3662.