Students in the Cultures and Communities Club at Nashoba Valley Technical High School met recently with State Rep. Vanna Howard to pass off the spices and cooking oils collected for the annual Spice Drive for Coalition for a Better Acre of Lowell. The Nashoba Tech community donated over50 pounds of items. Rep. Howard spoke to students about being an elected official who is a woman of color and about how their donations are helping families in culturally diverse neighborhoods preserve their cultural identity and pass on family traditions and recipes.
From row, from left, are Alyssa Dos Santos (sophomore, Chelmsford), Michael Prideaux (senior, Lowell) and Amelia Smilovitz (sophomore, Chelmsford). Back row, State Rep. Vanna Howard, Emma Ehring (sophomore, Chelmsford), Eva Carey (sophomore, Chelmsford), Lauren Mazgelis (senior, Westford), Ivory Gilmore (sophomore, Pepperell), Sarah Bartos (sophomore, Chelmsford) and club adviser Amy St. Arnaud.