This winter, Wakefield’s clubs are taking the initiative to donate and support the community. From toys to clothes to hygiene products, club members can bring in donations to different groups in exchange for hours to meet the requirements for their various service organizations. Not only does this encourage kindness during the season of giving, but it also leaves a positive impact on the Wakefield community.
As members of honor societies, many students are looking to fulfill their minimum service hour requirements. While these drives serve as a way for the members to reach these goals, they also serve as a way to bring awareness to different issues within the community and give students the opportunity to learn more about how they can help. Amelia Fountas is a senior and the president of Key Club, a service organization consisting of over 150 members in the Wakefield chapter. As president, she is tasked with organizing hour opportunities for members.
“I consider it our civic duty to do everything we can, so we hosted a food drive,” Fountas said. “It was really great to be able to donate as much food as we were able to.”
This December, Key Club collected nonperishable food items to donate to Triangle Food Pantry. The club collected enough food to fill up two cars, surpassing their expectations.
In addition to food drives, the Cancer Awareness Society organized a toy drive in light of December’s pediatric cancer awareness month, where all of the toys were donated to Zach’s Toy Chest. Students were given the opportunity to bring new or gently used toys to the donation box or create toys during their monthly meeting.
Myndee Ly is a junior and the head of communications for the Cancer Awareness Society and helped coordinate the toy drive.
“We are just trying to lift up [patient’s] spirits,” Ly said. “We are looking at WakeMed Children’s Hospital right now.”
In addition, Operation Smile, a club dedicated to raising money and awareness for kids with cleft lip and palate, collected materials for kids in the hospitals. This included toys as well as coloring sheets, coloring utensils and other items for children to use while staying in the hospital.
The club is dedicated to helping patients throughout the entire process of their surgery, and co-presidents Allison Lazzari and Bella O’Janpa are excited to help support these patients. They have helped raise about $350 worth of donations.
“We decided to pick a service project and this one seemed like the most effective and the one that would mean the most to the kids,” O’Janpa said.
While Wakefield clubs are working towards bettering the community, they are also encouraging other students to be involved with bigger issues. They have successfully created a positive and uplifting environment based on giving and volunteering.
“I think it brings the Wakefield community together and gives everyone a larger sense of purpose outside of the school,” Lazzari said. “There are so many things going on outside and all around the world and there are so many ways you can help in school to help outside of school and I think that is a really important connection to form.”
