teams adopt families for the holidays

Story and pictures by Madeline Young And Abby Bontrager.

Students at Clay have the giving bug this year. Teams Avengers, Justice, and all of seventh grade are participating with an Adopt a Family program.

“Adopt a Family is where you can actually adopt a family for the holidays, and you help raise and by gifts for these individuals,” Miss. Caitlin Engel said.

She said that the most donated gifts were clothing like sweatshirts and coats. Some of the other things are shampoo, gift cards, and even a bike!

All the presents that the students from each team supply are each wrapped and given to the families around Christmas. There are usually no specific goals other than to fully supply all the families with enough presents and goods for Christmas.

“I haven’t donated anything yet, but me and my family are going on a shopping spree for them and get gift cards and clothing,” Sophie Cassidy, seventh grade, said.

“I think it’s a good way to give to a family that’s in need, that kind of need something to give them a little boost,” Megan Abbott, seventh grade, said.

The first person to do Adopt a Family at Clay was Mr. Brian McGuckin’s wife, a former language arts teacher, who participated with McGuckin 17 years ago.

“She and I both started doing it, and started sharing it with other teachers who jumped in as well,” McGuckin said.

For the past 16 years, Clay teachers have been working through The United Christmas service program.

This year is different; Clay teachers worked with the Carmel Fire Department. On December 8, when the gifts were collected, with the help of the Carmel Fire Department, the presents were delivered to the families.

“I think the families are going to be happy and all of the young kids are going to be happy that Santa came,” Cassidy said.