What is Cougar Cares?

Cougar Cares is the student and family support branch of the CHS HSA. From everyday basics to special milestones, Cougar Cares is here to make sure students feel seen, supported and celebrated. And we couldn't do it without you! The need in our community is very real and more extensive than most people realize. Cougar Cares is on call year-round to help fill needs as they arise.

Cougar Cares' mission is to enable every student at Columbia High School to participate fully in all activities by offering discreet, supportive, and stigma-free assistance to those in need, through food support, access to school activities and events, emergency aid for unanticipated needs, and advocacy to address hidden barriers to access. Throughout the year, you'll see requests for specific donations, such as snacks, personal care products, clothing, and other supplies, but your HSA donations fund the core of Cougar Cares' work. Keep scrolling to learn more about how Cougar Cares is working behind the scenes to support students and families ... and how YOU can help.

Cougar Cares is here to help! If you have questions, want to get involved with the Cougar Cares team, or need financial assistance with CHS activities or programs, please contact us at cougarcares@columbiahsa.com. Students can also reach out to Ms. Liz Petroccia in the CHS Counseling Department or Ms. Jenny Easton in the Counseling Annex (next to the Alumni Commons).

Thank you! | Food Support for SOMSD Families

It was fantastic to see our SOMSD community come together so quickly to support the district-wide food drive on November 7th. And, thank you to everyone who donated to our PTA/HSA Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive! Your generosity helped the PTAs and HSAs achieve our $24,000 goal, which means we'll be able to provide $100 grocery gift cards to 240 SOMSD families. ❤️

Food insecurity continues to be the focus of the CHS HSA and Cougar Cares' efforts right now. We're working closely with CHS Counseling and the district to provide support for families. If you need help, please don't hesitate to reach out to Ms. Easton or Mr. Caspe in the Counseling Center for assistance. Our Cougar Cares team is also available at cougarcares@columbiahsa.com.

If you'd like to help, please consider donating any amount to Cougar Cares to directly support CHS families or to Rent Party to benefit the larger SOMSD community.

How Does Cougar Cares Help?

GIVING CLOSET Cougar Cares helps the Counseling Center keep a pantry stocked with essentials like snacks, school supplies, personal care items, and clothing basics, allowing students to get what they need easily and discreetly.

FOOD SUPPORT Food insecurity is a reality for many CHS students and their families. Holiday breaks can be tough for students who count on breakfast and lunch at school, so Cougar Cares stocks up ahead of long weekends and holiday breaks. Students stop by and "shop" for cereal, ramen noodles, peanut butter, tuna, macaroni & cheese, granola bars, and other hearty snacks to take home.

FRUIT & SNACKS Boy, teens are hungry! Cougar Cares helps the Counseling Center keep always available snacks on hand for anyone who needs a boost. Fresh fruit is by far the favorite. (Huge thanks to MEND NJ for supplying CHS with several cases of apples and oranges every single week.) Baskets of fruit are strategically positioned around the school — and are emptied almost as soon as they're refilled!

PROM SHOP Senior Prom is in June, but before that, the CHS HSA Prom Shop pops up every spring to help our seniors look amazing and feel incredible as they dance the night away. Everything is FREE and open to all CHS students.  Prom Shop will start accepting donations of dresses, tuxes, shoes, and purses in January. Then the real magic happens in March and April when parent and student volunteers sort, set up, work the shop, and assist with alterations so every student looks their best at prom.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES  Financial assistance for senior activities is available through the district for those who qualify, but Cougar Cares helps fill in the gaps by providing additional aid for things like yearbooks, caps and gowns, and prom tickets. HSA donations fund Cougar Cares' mission to provide discreet, stigma-free support to students who need it.

SUMMER FOOD SUPPORT Summer school days are long ... and the district doesn't provide breakfast or lunch. Cougar Cares helps keep snacks and drinks on hand so that hunger doesn't get in the way of learning.    EMERGENCY FUNDS The need for support in our CHS community doesn't end in June. Cougar Cares helps students in need with emergency funds for housing, unexpected medical expenses, and household needs throughout the year. CHS HSA Cougar Cares is on call year-round to help fill needs as they arise.

How Can our CHS Community Help?

WHATEVER TIME, TALENT OR ENERGY YOU HAVE, THERE'S A WAY YOU CAN HELP! 

SUPPLY DRIVES
Help keep the Giving Closet stocked with on-hand essentials and prepared for care package events all year long. Food, personal care products, and other items can be dropped off at CHS or ordered for direct-delivery through our Cougar Cares Wish List. The list changes depending on the season and current needs, but you can order off the Wish List anytime you'd like to support the Giving Closet. Keep an eye out for specific needs in the weekly newsletter and on socials. 

 SHOP THE LIST

WEEKLY SNACKS
Sign up to drop off fruit and snacks. Donations are needed every single week through June; pick a week (or more!) that works for you! Fruit is gobbled up in an instant: clementines, oranges, bags of mini carrots, or apples (NO BANANAS PLEASE). Students also love granola bars (like Nutri-grain, Quaker, and chewy nut-free), Rice Krispie treats, goldfish, peanut butter crackers, fruit snacks, trail mix or any other individually-wrapped snacks. Individual cereal boxes are a huge hit!

 STOCK UP ON SNACKS

PROM SHOP
Got formalwear? Set it aside for Prom Shop! Dresses, tuxes, suits, shoes and accessories ... help our CHS kids look their best at prom this spring. We'll start collecting early 2026, then we'll need help mid-spring sorting, setting up Prom Shop, and helping students shop. Everything—including minor alterations—is FREE at CHS Prom Shop!

DONATE to Cougar Cares. Your support funds our essential programs and so much more!

DONATE

 Thank you for helping fund our mission!
The Columbia Home and School Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer organization. All donations are greatly appreciated and will be used to support our CHS community.

Free & Reduced Lunch Applications

Free and Reduced Lunch: It's not just lunch! You may qualify for SOMSD financial assistance with summer school, prom tickets, graduation fees, and more. Application packets are available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. See if your family qualifies ... apply today! 

Questions? imoody@somsd.k12.nj.us 

Thank You! | Summer School