At Dodd City High School in Northeast Texas, the National Technical Honor Society chapter is proving that impact is not determined by size. With just 15 active members in a district serving roughly 315–375 students, this small but dedicated chapter has achieved extraordinary results.
Last fall, members voted during a chapter meeting to participate in the NTHS National Shoe Drive Campaign through Funds2Orgs. They initially hoped to collect a few hundred pairs of gently used shoes. What followed became a powerful example of student leadership and community engagement.
After launching the drive-in late October and promoting it on school social media, community support quickly grew. A local Boy Scout troop contributed 15 bags of shoes from its own collection efforts, giving the chapter an early boost. As donations continued, the chapter extended the drive into the spring semester and used an extra classroom on campus to store the growing collection.
By the campaign’s conclusion on March 1, the 15-member chapter had collected nearly 38 bags, totaling approximately 925–950 pairs of shoes. They also received monetary donation from an anonymous community supporter. For a chapter of this size, collecting nearly 1,000 pairs of shoes is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the impact of student-led service. Their efforts placed them among the top-performing NTHS chapters nationally and earned a celebratory pizza party funded by NTHS headquarters in recognition of their work.
“The NTHS National Shoe Drive Campaign with Funds2Orgs has been a unique opportunity to provide a community service project that reaches around the world,” shared NTHS chapter advisor Nathan Melson. “We were skeptical about how this gently used shoe collection project might go in our small corner of Texas, and we were surprised to learn we had one of the top-performing NTHS chapters nationally.”
Community service remains central to the chapter’s mission, with members completing eight service hours each semester. In addition to the shoe drive, students host school-wide food and clothing drives, volunteer at the local VA Medical Center, support the Sam Rayburn House Museum, and raise funds for a $250 senior scholarship awarded annually.
Dodd City High School NTHS demonstrates that meaningful change can start small when students are empowered to lead. Chapters across the country are encouraged to explore service initiatives like the Funds2Orgs Shoe Drive. If your chapter is doing outstanding work, consider sharing your story through the NTHS highlight form to inspire others across the NTHS community.
