Caleb Kimbro

Writer

Planning for this year’s annual M.O.R.O.T.O. week, members of Marlow High School Student Council have prepared since July of 2019 for the philanthropy week of Friday, Jan. 31 through Friday, Feb. 7.

M.O.R.O.T.O, an acronym standing for Marlow Outlaws Reaching Out To Others, has taken effect at MHS for the past two years.

Each year, a recipient is chosen by the council members to receive all proceeds from M.O.R.O.T.O. 

StuCo then creates a week-long list of activities for students across all campuses to attend at the small price of $1-$5 per event. 

The beneficiary for the 2020 M.O.R.O.T.O Week donations is the Marlow Samaritans.

For the past 39 years, generous donors of the Marlow community have helped support the thriving organization by donating money, food and clothing.

With the Samaritans being a non-profit service, it completely relies on donations from local businesses and individuals around Stephens County.

“All this is made possible through monetary donations from our community,” stated Chamber member Cricket Holland.

Setting up the items donated to be given for free to those in need, the Marlow Samaritans heavily rely on volunteers to help run the organization.

“Volunteers work tirelessly to help others in need,” said Holland. “We do not have any paid workers, and our Board of Directors is made up of lay people.”

The donations given to the Samaritans are used in many ways that aim to support the community.

The organization runs many departments that involve helping the community, such as: a food bank that provides food to over 250 families each month, a clothing store that is open to anyone without charge and the provision of temporary homes to residents that are in desperate need of shelter.

Being connected through serving in the Samaritans Food Bank, MHS StuCo has had previous experience with the non-profit organization and found it fit to dedicate their philanthropy to the group that gives to the Marlow community.

Student Council Advisor Ann Field described the importance that the Marlow Samaritans serves for the community. 

“The Samaritans are an invaluable asset to our community,” Field said. “They feed and clothe so many of our residents. We are excited to support them.”

With the donations raised from M.O.R.O.T.O week, the Marlow Samaritans plan to use the raised funds to further assist those in the Marlow community.