Have you ever wanted something so bad that you can’t think about anything else? Have you ever woken up Christmas morning, gone downstairs and seen a room full of presents? Have you ever opened up a present that you didn’t expect to receive, and experienced the blissful joy that surrounded you? There are children in our local community that do not have the privilege of experiencing these feelings. It should not be this way. Everyone should be able to have those experiences at least once. Many people are teaming up this year to spread the joy of the Christmas season. The Friendship House in Middlesex is collecting brand new toys from the community to help support lower income families. This deed is a very good cause and takes a lot of time, as well as dedication from those who care.

Wendy Kierst (English teacher at the high school) has teamed up with the Friendship House to help them with the Toy Drive and the Food Drive. She plans and organizes the best ways to get as many donations as possible. This toy drive is involving everyone in the school district and anyone can donate new, unwrapped toys until December 16^th. She will deliver these donations to the Friendship House to then have the community come in and benefit from her hard work. She is truly a blessing to this community.

This year the Leadership class has also teamed up to help Mrs. Kierst and the rest of the school district to help the Friendship House. For the holiday season, Leadership commenced by creating a team of caring individuals that now form the Toy Drive Committee and are on the mission, "Operation Toy Drive." The purpose of this operation is to collect money from caring individuals who wish to help make a difference, and buy toys for local children in need.

One plan that Leadership has contrived is the selling of wristbands. They created light blue wristbands with white writing that say, "Give the Gift of a Smile," because that’s the plan this holiday season. The bracelets cost $1 a piece and all profits will be donated to the Friendship House. The goal for the Leadership class is to buy at least 200 toys. Although we cannot do this by ourselves, we need your help to attain this goal.

Not as many people are as fortunate as we are. Therefore, we should take action by utilizing our fortune for the children’s benefit. Don’t sit back and wonder if there is anything you can do to help, because now you know that there are smiles that you can give needy children.