In the past, Key Club has “adopted a family” for the holiday season through My Sister’s House, which passed gifts along on our behalf, but this year our officers made the decision to personally deliver gifts to our family. We connected with a family through Sleep In Heavenly Peace, an organization that builds and delivers beds, bedding, blankets, and pillows to children who do not own a bed.

Each year, all Key Club members are required to sell a minimum of twenty-five raffle tickets. After collecting our raffle funds, officers Mari Robin Tharin, Darshan Patel, Mary Kimbrell Livermon, Sarah Cathryne Coltrane, Wells Hutson, and Elle Bartolomeo began shopping for a family of five. We were told each child’s favorite color, clothing size, and interests. We shopped on a budget of $300 per child at Walmart, Five Below, Target, and various sites online and purchased several outfits, winter gear, toys, and games for each child. We also bought paper products and supplies for the family and essentials such as plates, cups, and bath towels. We couldn’t leave out the mom or the grandma, so we purchased a few gifts for them as well! 

Per tradition, anyone in Upper School was welcome to come help wrap these gifts on the last day of school before Christmas break. Club members provided wrapping supplies to make this possible. Our very talented club member Carley Outlaw wrote each child’s name in calligraphy on a set of plastic drawers that our club provided for the children to keep their new clothing in. That afternoon, club officers–with their amazing advisors, Ms. Baker and Ms. Keel–delivered the gifts to the children. Half of the gifts were opened when we delivered them, and half were opened on Christmas morning. Watching the children open their gifts was easily the highlight of my holiday season. They were so excited and grateful for everything they received. After opening gifts, we stayed to play with them and their new toys for a while. We enjoyed a tea party with a new tea set, playing catch with a new ball, building with new Legos, and more. Vice President Darshan Patel states, “The gift-buying process was fun and delivering them to the family was incredibly eye-opening. Seeing the situations of those not as fortunate as us is an experience I will never forget, and this service act was overall gratifying and humbling.” 

Of all of the amazing projects that Key Club puts on throughout the year, this one is easily my favorite. I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to personally deliver to the family this year and am very thankful of all those who contributed by wrapping gifts, personalizing drawers, selling or buying raffle tickets, etc. I want to especially thank Ms. Baker and Ms. Keel for all of their leadership in making this experience possible. As Sergeant in Arms Wells Hutson said, “Delivering the presents to the kids was truly special and impactful and gave me a new perspective.” I am confident that none of us will ever forget it!