Starting November 14, the CCHS French Club began a Christmas-themed donation drive for children in Haiti. Items needed for the drive include small toys, stuffed animals, school supplies and hygiene products. Students interested in donating for the drive can deliver items to Marie Chery and Lindsay Roberts’ classrooms until December 3.
It’s been eight years since Haiti’s last major earthquake, but thousands of Haitian residents are still in need of humanitarian aid, especially with subsequent hurricanes such as Andrew and Michael.
Unlike the Harvest Drive, which is primarily food-based, the aims of French Club’s donation drive is to provide Haitian children with things they may not have access to after constant natural disasters, such as toys or school supplies. Most Haiti relief missions usually involve providing resources such as food and water, but few are focused on meeting the needs that children may have beyond those, which is why French Club’s donation drive came to be.
“Receiving these gifts will be an unforgettable treat that will bring both a smile and hope into a child’s life,” French Club sponsor Marie Chery said. “For some, this will be the only gift they receive. A small gesture on our part goes beyond imagination in another child’s world.”
French Club tries to be as charitable as possible and participate in drives, much like this one, as often as they can. It’s been eight years since Haiti’s last major earthquake, but thousands of Haitian residents are still in need of humanitarian aid, especially with subsequent hurricanes such as Andrew and Michael.
“Every year, French Club tries to do a few charity activities,” French Club President Svetlana Johnson said. “Shoeboxes for Haiti is one of them. We bring in shoeboxes and pack them with little gifts to open on Christmas and a third-party organization will ship them.”
French Club hopes to do similar charity projects in the near future on a bigger, more widespread scale.
This specific donation drive is holiday-themed. With Christmas and other winter holidays around the corner, the club aims to lighten up children’s faces during the holidays, especially those who may not have received any gifts otherwise.
“I hope this specific drive helps [children in Haiti] smile,” Vice President Melody Wood said. “Obviously, we can’t get rid of all of their problems, with the recent natural disasters in that area. I think this drive is really important because it brings a little joy to people who have been suffering, and hope it makes things even a little bit easier [for them].”
French Club hopes to do similar charity projects in the near future on a bigger, more widespread scale. The more items donated, the more French Club feels content with what they’re accomplishing as a CCHS club. As of now, French Club members hope that the current donation drive is the best one yet– with more items than they’ve ever packed before.
“[The drives] are usually a small thing. We pack about 10 boxes a year. This year I was hoping to pack even more boxes,” Johnson said. “That’s why we’re doing the drive this year and also why I reached out to [the National Honor Society] to help. I want us to make an even bigger difference.”
Photo by Genna Nordling
