JEFFERSON – In what has become an annual tradition, the Jefferson Area High School Senior Leadership Club, as well as JAHS senior and junior class officers, helped pack boxes of gifts for the HALO program on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
HALO’s Share Your Christmas program is a community outreach program coordinated by Catholic Charities designed to help those in need with food and toys during the Christmas season.
JAHS students assembled boxes and filled those boxes with toys and gifts for families throughout Ashtabula County.
The packing took place at the Expo Building at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds. The next day, families picked up their boxes in a large distribution event.
“The Junior Class officers come so they know what to expect their senior year, when they join Senior Leadership,” said Senior Class Advisor and Senior Leadership Club Advisor Michael Barney.
HALO Program Coordinator Alice Harden was grateful for the students’ help.
“Our program provides toys and food to anyone in need for the holidays,” Harden said.
Families from throughout the county sign up for the HALO program starting in October, with a number of them “adopted” by community members or organizations.
For the families that were not adopted, they received their gifts through the distribution day.
For adults and children, on the distribution day, they will receive gifts for the kids and items to make a Christmas dinner.
“We partner with Country Neighbor,” Harden said of the items for the meal.
The adult households will also receive a gift bag.
The HALO program purchases the gift items, thanks in part to a Gala dinner fundraiser. The program also receives donations from churches, organizations and individuals, Harden said.
“We do work with Toys for Tots,” Harden said.
The students help pack the items for the big event the next day.
“They are Santa’s elves,” Harden said.
Students helped put together the gift bags, receiving the ages of the children and picking out appropriate toys.
“We’re packing up gifts for families,” said Senior Leadership Treasurer Jessica Dreis. “We’re doing it based off their age.”
Dreis also took part in the event last year.
“Just knowing that you’re helping people, and making someone’s Christmas memorable,” Dreis said of what she enjoyed about the program.
Senior Leadership member Leah Markley, in her first year taking part, agreed.
“Knowing that we’re helping people, and [recognizing] that we’re privileged enough to be able to come here and give kids a Christmas who might not otherwise have one,” Markley said.
Ashtabula County Catholic Charities Executive Director Jill Valentic was grateful for the student participation.
“I think this is a great opportunity for students to learn about how we all need help in different ways, whether it’s helping a person in need or helping an organization like Catholic Charities make sure that we’re organized for a big event that helps a lot of people. This is a mass distribution for Christmas cheer. It’s all hands on deck,” Valentic said. “But at the same time, it’s filling the mission of making Christmas bright for many people.”
The students also are getting to see the behind-the-scenes aspect, Valentic said.
“It takes months to get to this point,” Valentic said.
She praised Harden for organizing the donations and event and lining up the student volunteers.
“Students from Jefferson High School are making an impact today,” Valentic said.
