Crystal City High School seniors Isabelle Caby, Destiny Cole and Haylee Evans wanted to make a difference in the lives of those in their community.
They decided to create a community service project through their local F.B.L.A. (Future Business Leaders of America) chapter to accomplish that goal.
The result? – Presents with a Purpose.
The project targeted families and individuals who were likely to go without gifts during the holiday season. Presents with a Purpose served approximately 40 individuals and 15 families in the Crystal City School District.
Caby said the program recognized that holiday giving often focuses on essentials.
“Food is often donated around the holidays but other things can get left out,” she said.
Numerous people and a few organizations, including Spectrum Charter and Maryville University, donated to the project.
Donations included shoes, toys, toiletries, towels, blankets, winter wear, and cash donations.
The three girls organized a pajama day at the high school to both raise funds and to get fellow students involved in the project. Students who participated donated $1 to wear their pajamas to school.
Caby said she found the experience rewarding.
“It made it all worth it just to see the reaction on people’s faces when the gifts were received, especially those who weren’t expecting them,” she said.
The fact that donations went to people in her school district was especially meaningful, Caby said.
She said her younger sister shared about how some of her friends didn’t receive gifts from Santa. From that moment, Presents with a Purpose became personal.
The most carefully considered part of the project was choosing who would receive which items.
Caby recounted looking at all of the donations spread out across her home and trying to decide how to distribute the presents. They all wanted the items to be a good match for the recipients. She encouraged other students who want to help in the community to, “Just do it!”
“There are mistakes you might make along the way, but if you will just start, create an outline and a step-by-step plan, you can get something done.”