Artwork by Natalie Baram
Isabella Wahl ‘25
REPORTER
The holiday season is not only a time of celebration, but also of giving – an opportunity for all to participate in the giving and sharing of the joy of the season. From kindergarteners to 12th-grade students to staff members, everyone within the Unionville-Chadds Ford District plays a part in spreading the holiday cheer.
Embodying these principles, the Chadds Ford Elementary School (CFES) students participate in the season of giving through their annual drives to support the Kennett Area Community Services (KACS), a local nonprofit that provides for less fortunate families in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and its surrounding areas. Their donation drives, in which students bring in goods throughout the year, range from non-perishable items to clothing to personal care products. The principal of CFES, Ms. Danielle Clark, emphasizes the importance of these drives by stating, “It helps to teach our students empathy and ways that they can build their character.”
The time of giving also extends its way to Charles F. Patton Middle School, where, for more than 35 years, the time-honored annual community service project of the Giving Tree has taken place. The project, which runs from the end of November until mid-December, has been present since the 1980s where students are able to donate new, unwrapped gifts to the KACS for children of all ages. The theme of the project is outlined as “‘tis better to give than to receive,” and helps to not only support fellow families in our community during the holiday season, but also to teach Patton students the importance of helping others and the joy of giving back.
The high school also supports the season of giving, supporting multiple drives throughout the month of December. The Unionville Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (USAAC), led by senior President Fiona Avondolio and senior Secretary Jack Develin, hosted a Holiday Toy Drive, in which each winter sports teams participated in some friendly competition to collect the most toys to donate. In the end, the rowing team collected the most toys, and all donations were given to the Community Youth and Women’s Alliance. High School volunteers also continue to spread the holiday cheer by supporting a variety of different holiday events, such as the Girl Scout Holiday Hop that took place at the High School. A wide range of volunteers from National Honor Society to Women Empowerment Club volunteered their time to wrap over 100 gifts donated by young Girl Scouts in the Unionville community and worked to lead crafts and other activities for these young girls.
The holiday season within UCFSD is a true embodiment of the spirit of giving, where students and staff come together to support one another and the community. These holiday projects not only provide essential support to families in need but also teach the importance of community involvement that extends far beyond the holiday season.
