The Backpack Club is a fundraising program that is currently being held by many organizations around the United States. The club provides healthy, fresh food to a number of students in an area that attend certain elementary school.

   This year, social studies teacher Chris Pinnix once again helped his church, College Park Baptist, out by bringing the fundraiser into Reagan. The main goal was to make as much money as possible for students in need.

   Not only was a goal set, but a bargain was also made between Pinnix, freshman Gabriel Hollingsworth, social studies teacher Josh Cutshaw and Assistant Principal Maurice Jackson.

   The bargain set was that if the school made $1,000, then Pinnix and Cutshaw would “rock a Mohawk.” Gabriel agreed that if $1,500 was made then he would shave his hair into a Mohawk as well, and if $2,000 was reached, Jackson would shave his beard.

   Reagan ended up raising $3,600 for the Backpack Club, and the money went to Old Richmond and Vienna Elementary Schools. Making all that money for this cause was a great success, but for the ones who had to shave and cut their hair, it was almost bittersweet.

   “I think it has been great,” Hollingsworth said. “To be honest i’m not a huge fan of the hair, but it was for such a good cause I couldn’t turn Mr. Pinnix down.”

   The impact of the money raised for these kids was enough to be able to provide 1,600 weekends worth of meals to the 63 students that are sponsored by Pinnix’s church.

   In the four years that Mohawk Madness has been a fundraiser at Reagan, over $17,000 has been raised for the students who are sponsored.

   Not only has Reagan helped out these kids in need, but the community around the schools have helped as well.

   “What motivates me would be that I’m such a strong believer; I feel like it is our mission to give and to try to do for others,” Pinnix said. “There is nothing better than helping the community and what is neat about this fundraiser was being able to see all of the support from all of the teachers and the generosity of so many students and the faculty willing to donate to such a worthy cause that directly benefits our community.”

   Significant donations were made by math teacher Sarah Smith and her class, raising $1,000, as well as Cutshaw who helped raise $500. They raised around half of the money that was raised at Reagan this year.

   The help and support from Reagan and the community is already helping out those 63 students every weekend.