Students gather toys for military families, children
Children's toys, school supplies, and stocking stuffers were just a few things on the list for high schoolers looking to make a difference, and they hit them all, plus some.
Members of the Wareham High School Key Club, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, and the Distributive Education Clubs of America teamed up to organize a gift drive for two causes.
The first was a gift drive to replenish losses from a nine-trailer fire at Joint Base Cape Cod in late October. The fire grabbed media attention all over the state, including those who organized the drive and those who donated to it.
"I saw on TV when the fire happened, and it slipped my mind. Then I saw the article about the drive," said Sheri Gay, who went out to Target and bought games and gift cards to donate.
The fire also caught Cadet Tyler Litchfield's attention.
"Tyler was the one that came to me and said we'd like to do something about this," said Mike Stanton, advisor of the JROTC and Key Club. "He started this drive and got everybody's help."
DECA helped advertised for the drive under the direction of Andy Thompson, who also serves on the JROTC.
The second drive was hosted by the school's Key Club. The club gathered books and supplies to donate to children in the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute of the Tufts Children's Floating Hospital in Boston-- something they do annually.
"Each year we do a collection for the hospital and we go to Boston," said president Ruth Gonzalez.
Among the items collected were a Kindle reader, several gift cards, a canteen, and a beginner's fishing rod.