HELPING HANDS: Talia Fiester, left, and May Kotsen recently joined fellow Princeton High School Democrats in Action to raise funds for girls in the Oaks Integrated Care Foster Home Program. The club, which was formed in the spring, is focused on taking action to make a difference.

For several years, the Princeton High School Democrats club has served as an outlet for students with liberal opinions who want to share their opinions with like-minded individuals. Recently, a second club has emerged, and it takes the concept a step further.

Princeton High School Democrats in Action was founded this spring by four sophomores who wanted to do more than talk. Talia Fiester, May Kotsen, Kahdeeja Qurieshi, and Ella Kotsen put the club together in April, organizing a voter registration drive. More recently, the club organized a local canning drive at McCaffrey’s Market, gathering feminine hygiene products for girls in the Foster Home Program at Oaks Integrated Care, a non-profit that provides social services to New Jersey residents in need.

“This is the second Democrats’ club at the high school,” said Talia, who is about to turn 16. “We are definitely activism-focused. The other club is a place where Democrats can meet other Democrats in the school and discuss issues.”

The new club is a branch of the organization New Jersey High School Democrats of America, and works in conjunction with other high schools across the state, Talia said. About 55 or 60 students are in the Facebook group, while some 20 to 30 attend the club’s weekly meetings.

“Last year, I was not as involved in politics as I am now,” Talia reflected. “But during the first half of this year I became a lot more passionate about debating and policy issues. I joined the existing Democrats’ club at school. When the gubernatorial elections started to come up, I wanted to get involved. I reached out to the Murphy campaign and they directed me to New Jersey High School Democrats.”

Talia and her colleagues liked the message of the statewide organization. “It was a great way to get involved,” she said. “I wanted to bring it to Princeton High School because the existing clubs here are mostly about discussing the issues. That’s fun, and it’s necessary. But it’s not what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a mover and a shaker.”

The drive to raise funds for girls at Oaks Integrated Care grew out of the fact that Talia’s sister is a counselor in one of the organization’s group homes. “The state budget is too small and there isn’t enough money for them to allow for feminine products and different kinds of toiletries,” Talia said. “These products are not luxuries, they are needs. We raised more than $700 and 40 cases of products in less than three hours.”

Future initiatives for the club include more voter registration drives, trying to getting high school seniors of voting age to get to the polls. The club also wants to continue its focus on social activism via obtaining feminine products for girls in group homes. Plans are to reach out to Lola, the company that makes organic feminine products, to see if they are interested in a sponsorship.

In a printed statement about last month’s drive, the club wrote, “Not only did this drive help the lives of all the girls at The Oaks, but it showcased the undeniable power of a community effort. It’s easy to assume that a couple minutes of your day or spare coins from your pocket will never change the world, but if we coalesce, the future is ours to mold. Princeton High School Democrats in Action will continue to promote political action as a powerful means to better the world we live in today.”