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Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

Red Bank High School students offer ‘hugs’ to kids in distress

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students-offer-hugs-to-kids-in-distress students-offer-hugs-to-kids-in-distress
photo Gwendolyn Mynatt, left, and Keyanna Tatum add donated stuffed animals Thursday to more than 50 toys at Red Bank High. Student coucil president Matthew Smith, right, helped head-up the 26 Hugs project designated for kids at emergency scenes.

How to helpAnyone who would like to donate can bring a new stuffed animal with the tags still on it to the Red Bank High School front office through Feb. 15.

The Red Bank High School student council is hosting a Valentine’s Day stuffed animal drive in honor of the Sandy Hook shooting.

They are calling the drive “26 Hugs” — one hug for each of the Sandy Hook victims.

“We wanted to do something together as Red Bank, as a community and as a school,” said senior Lynn Tran.

The students have been working hard to get the program started, sometimes coming in as early as 6:30 a.m. to prepare.