News & Resources

2022 Holiday Canned Food Drive

On Nov. 01, Hearts of Horizons Civitan members kicked off our 2022 Holiday Canned Food Drive.

Food will be donated to the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. 

Many Alabama families depend on generous donations to avoid hunger. 

Most NEEDED items:

  • Canned Corn (15 oz.)
  • Canned Mixed Vegetables (15 oz.)
  • Canned Cut Sweet Potatoes (15 oz.)
  • Canned Green Beans (15 oz.)
  • Potato Flakes (6.5 oz.)
  • Macaroni and Cheese (7.5 oz.)
  • Canned Mixed Fruit (15 oz.)
  • Canned Applesauce (15 oz.)
  • Cake Mix (10 oz.)
  • Raisins (15 oz.)
  • Dry Blackeye Peas (16 oz.)
  • Canned Blackeye Peas (15 oz.)
  • Rice (32 oz.) 

AVOID: Sodas, candy, junk food, alcoholic beverages, homemade items, open/used items, items in a glass container, or perishable products. 

Your participation is welcome! We will arrange to have donations picked up by the Food Bank after Dec. 09.

Update 1-4-2022

Horizons perseveres despite pandemic-related challenges! We enrolled new and returning students from AL, FL, GA, MS, TN, & TX. All are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

We proudly opened the Wesley Eason Memorial Kitchen and student lounge as a modern and accessible teaching space. Thanks to our many donors for your generous support!

We appreciate our neighbors at St. Mary’s on the Highlands who graciously shared classroom and kitchen space during our school renovation. Students enjoyed a festive meal and games hosted by the youth and Encourager mentors of St. Mary’s.

Our collaboration with university partners is mutually beneficial. Students in the Health Professions and Education serve as mentors teaching health and fitness practices.

Horizons students are busy learning prevocational skills for future employment. We continue teaching certificate programs endorsed by employers.

Congratulations to our students who began new training internships and others who accepted paid jobs in the community. We value our career partners and welcome new inquiries.

Highlights from the Fall 2020 Horizons School Student Fitness Program

To promote safety and wellness during the pandemic, students in Fitness classes this term participated in live remote activities led by Greater Level Training (GLT) twice weekly with assistance from Horizons School faculty.  GLT performed pre and post assessments to measure student progress during the fall, noted individual improvements, and offered encouragement.  Data from the assessments showed that as a group, the students had improved upper body, lower body, and core strength compared to their performance at the beginning of the fall!  Students shared individual outcomes, for instance, “My flexibility improved,” “I became stronger and faster,” and “I’m more relaxed.”

In addition, Horizons continued its partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the We Can Do It! Program. Our students benefited from nutrition and fitness assessment and mentoring by eager mentors via weekly Zoom meetings. University mentors developed “smart goals” with each student and evaluated progress during their follow-up meetings.  Students will revisit individual goals and continue engaging in physical activity when classes resume after the holiday. Horizons School promotes developing lifelong wellness habits, including healthy eating and exercise!