At Concord Carlisle High School, students, staff, and teachers recently came together to launch a school-wide donation drive called ‘The Gift of Warmth’ — an effort to collect winter gloves for families in need, donating them to The Wish Project.
Inspiration:
After having volunteered at The Wish Project in Chelmsford, MA, I saw families searching for gloves, only to find empty shelves. I knew our school community could make a difference. I connected with the Wish Project’s director Grace and the Assistant Principal of student life, Ms. Maines, and they both joyfully gave the green light to launch “The Gift of Warmth.”
A Flood of Generosity Drown Out Apprehension:
At first, I was anxious about whether people would donate. What if a month passed and the boxes remained empty?
That fear was quickly proven wrong.
The beloved, now-retired Ms. Hammer enthusiastically supported the drive, consistently mentioning it in the CCHS newsletter. The social media team also stepped in, using their creativity to broadcast the message across hallway TVs. Additionally, several teachers, including French teacher Madame Watchi, gave up some time at the beginning of their classes to mention the drive to students.
Before long, the boxes filled up—piles of warm, colorful, thoughtfully packaged gloves were stacked to the brim! Faculty, parents, and students all chipped in, whether by buying brand-new pairs or digging through closets for gently used sets.
The Beauty of CCHS’s Spirit:
People of all ages were willing to give and spread love unconditionally to an organization utterly separate from the high school. This is what makes CCHS stand out. The CCHS community did not hesitate to sacrifice time or money, happily outpouring their kindness.
The Gloves Are Successfully Gifted!
When I drove the collected box to The Wish Project’s headquarters and walked in, the volunteer team erupted in excitement and joy.
Volunteer for the Wish Project organization, Nancy, hard at work removing tags from gloves and pairing them for clients:
Volunteer for Wish Project organization, Rosalind, happily arranging the donated gloves in boxes:
Just look at the cart and boxes full of these new gloves!
The team thoughtfully and carefully organized the gloves into designated boxes based on size, helping families find the gloves they need with ease. One by one, families came to pick up this ‘gift of warmth,’ and the look of relief and gratitude on their faces spoke volumes. Children were bursting into smiles as they slipped on their fuzzy, colorful new gloves, all thanks to the efforts of our great community.
You Can Play A Part, Too.
Though the drive is over, the need does not end. No family should face an icy, bitter winter; if everyone chips in, hopefully, they won’t have to worry about this harsh potential reality. Whether you have clothing lying around or even hygiene products (always in high demand, e.g., toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, etc.), these simple items we call “everyday items” can make a huge difference in changing a family’s life.
To learn more or contribute year-round, visit The Wish Project at 166 Middlesex St, North Chelmsford, MA 01863, Tuesday through Friday, from 9 A.M. to 2:45 P.M.
Now the real question is… Are you ready to make a difference?
