A Key Club member walks into the cafeteria of Upper Campus, ready to wrap some gifts for children at this month’s meeting. They’re optimistic, as this is a perfect way to spread holiday cheer, because everyone deserves a happy holiday.

To help kick off this Chirtmas break, the MCHS Key Club had their annual gift wrapping meeting on Dec. 11 in the Upper Campus cafeteria.

Club members and other volunteers were given the opportunity to adopt and shop for a child this holiday season. 

“This event really shows how we are giving back to the community as a club for our high school,” Key Club member Ella Synek says, “and how we can all come together to do something nice for the children.”

This year, so many children are getting handpicked gifts from the students based on their wishlists.

“It really gives the kids some hope,” Key Club Historian Ashley Dumez says, “It lets them know that there are others out there that care for them.”

Around 230 people including kids and also some adults at disabled group homes are being provided gifts. There were around 75 Key Clubbers at the meeting wrapping the gifts with additional help from Kiwanis club members, Parklands builders club, the Pioneer center, Rosecrance and some extra parents in order to make this happen.

“It’s nice we get to help other people,” Key Club member Alexis Danz says,  “there’s not very many opportunities in high school to help out because we’re always so busy, but people love getting to do this.”

This is a good opportunity all around, considering students get to make Christmas special for others and then relax this season with kindness and selflessness in their hearts. 

“Not only is it good to volunteer,” Synek says, “being here at heart warming things like this helps display our dedication to our hours and the club.”This meeting is one of the purest ways to give back to the community during this holiday season and is a tradition to be continued for years to come.

“If I had to describe this event in one word, it would be joyous,” Synek says.

As the club member finishes wrapping their last gift for the night and puts the last bow on top, they glance at the box they have filled up with neatly wrapped presents. They feel accomplished but also excited knowing that on Christmas morning, the unwrapping of these gifts will bring greater joy to someone else.