A growing community focused on kindness

Friends of Rogers is a club that has regained its popularity during this school year, however many are unaware that its original name was Friends of Rachel. Friends of Rachel was introduced to the Rogers High School community by Charles Lee, current assistant superintendent, and Ron Highfill, a former administrator at RHS, now retired. The original goal of Friends of Rachel was to provide a place for students to feel safe and comfortable in a community, even during stressful times. 

“Our primary goal is engagement, integration and the building of a community,” according to friendofrachel.org.

Unity within the group was important, and this pillar of Friends of Rachel has also supported Friends of Rogers. Throughout the years, the club’s name was changed to Friends of Rogers to Highlight the community that they were creating throughout the entirety of Rogers.

“Friends of Rogers is about community service, spreading kindness, and making people feel welcome,” said Keri Book, academic facilitator.

Last school year, Friends of Rogers hosted the Out of the Darkness Walk, a suicide prevention walk around the school. There was a huge turnout with over 300 students showing up to help set up and tear down, which they were happy to do. 

“Last year I had a group of students that helped organize the Suicide walk and they came back [this year] in full force,” said Book.

This year’s Walk to Prevent Suicide at Orchards Park had a larger turn out than last year. Adults and children alike had participated and volunteered to make this walk the best it could be. Several hundred people participated in the walk with donations, volunteering, or clean-up. Collectively, they raised over $54,000.

A helicopter, along with several news crews, came out to report on the event. 

This year, Friends of Rogers is expecting to spread to other schools, host an assortment of fundraisers and organize another Walk to Fight Suicide for April 1, 2023, which many have volunteered for already. Others are expected from various schools, groups, and communities within Northwest Arkansas. As of now, Friends of Rogers has started expanding to other high schools, including Rogers Heritage High School and Rogers New Technology High School. They hope to continue spreading kindness across the Rogers district.

“My goal is for all of the schools to have a Friends of Rogers club and Make it a district wide thing,” Book said. “[I] See us doing more projects to impact Rogers.”