LOWER LAKE — The Lower Lake High School (LLHS) Kids Club stepped up its efforts to contribute to the “Toys for Tots” collection drive in Lake County this year. The teens increased their hands-on support as well as their monetary donation to the program.
“I”ve been involved with the Kids Club for the last two years and it”s really wonderful to see all our hard work pay off,” Sheila Smires, club president said. “We recently had a toy drive at our school for the Toys for Tots organization. We also took money out of our Kids Club fund and used it to buy tons of toys at Rite-Aid. It was a blast.”
The Kids Club, established in 2008, aims to “make a difference” for the children in its school and its community. The club”s annual fundraiser consists of hot chocolate sales during chilly fall and winter months. Proceeds assist the club in purchasing fundraising supplies and club T-shirts for members to wear during events and activities. Funds also assist in the club”s support of local organizations.
“We are constantly fundraising and trying to think of new ways to make this community a better place for the kids who live in it,” Smires said.
The club”s latest venture was that in support of the Toys for Tots program. Smires said that club members and other LLHS student volunteers worked seven, eight-hour days in November and December manning the toy drive station at Walmart in Clearlake. Club members expanded the toy drive to its own school campus and engaged the students in a competition that netted more than 120 donations.
“The Junior Class won with the most donations (46) followed by the sophomores, freshmen, staff and seniors,” Smires said. “The Kids Club also placed a donation box at the Konocti Unified School District main office and donations were collected from that location as well.”
On Dec. 8, during the club”s last meeting of the year, members voted to double its monetary contribution to the Toys for Tots program approving a $500 donation. Smires and club members Rebecca Sires, Megan Taber and Samantha Portlock met Kids Club Advisor Pam Inman at Rite-Aid on Dec. 11 where they stretched their dollars to the best of their ability for program. Inman said when the students were finished at Rite-Aid they took what money they had left and spent it at The Dollar Store.
“I”m so glad I got to be a part of the Toys for Tots drive. It was a lot of fun,” Portlock said.
The Kids Club assists local organizations with a variety of children”s events and activities. In the past, the club has assisted the Lake County Fire Protection District”s Volunteer Firefighters Association with its Halloween haunted house; Lake County Children”s Art and Science Museum with events at Anderson Marsh; Lower Lake Elementary School Parent/Teacher Association with its annual jog-a-thong; East Lake Elementary School”s harvest festival; and Lower Lake Elementary School”s “Read Across American” celebration.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
