Key Club
Reporter Ella Hayes writes about the history of the Key Club, some activities the Key Club participates in, and how you can get involved!
key club is back in action!
By Ella Hayes
Photo - @keyclub.gphs
After last year’s very productive season where the Key Club wrapped presents for foster kids, painted the softball field, carved pumpkins to donate to retirement homes, and many more fun community service activities, the Key Club has just now restarted its biweekly meetings and began community service activities again. After the retirement of Shaun Gross, the key club mentor of many years, new teacher Alicia Morales has stepped in as the new Key Club advisor. Additionally, the leadership group has been preparing for the beginning of the new year; President Madeleine Powell, Vice President Briana Ramos, Secretary Justin Vinyard, and Editor Haylee Bayard are so excited for Key Club to start the year right.
Key Club International was founded in 1925 in Sacramento, California by 11 original charter members. This original Key Club was formed for the purpose of creating a junior club for high school students from the original Kiwanis organization. Put simply, Kiwanis is the adult version of Key Club; Kiwanis partners with high school Key Clubs across the world to coordinate ways to give back to the community. Key Club was formed with the intention to learn leadership skills, assist local communities, and build character through community service. Key Club members aim to make a positive impact on the people around them, and to better their own community. Joining Key Club also helps to boost resumes, and it exposes members to additional scholarship opportunities.
Photo - @keyclub.gphs
Key Club participates in loads of fun activities that benefit our schools and local community. To name one, last spring, the Key Club wrote customized positive messages on elementary school sidewalks that kids would be able to see when they walked into school every morning. The sidewalks were painted at multiple elementary schools, and some art students even participated to make the chalk art extra special for the students! Key Club also often participates in wrapping personalized Christmas gifts for foster kids in Grants Pass, from infant to teen. Key Club President, Madeleine Powell, enjoyed wrapping presents because she enjoyed the feeling of giving back: "It was so fun to imagine how the kids would react to getting their gifts." Powell explained that some gifts were even specifically requested by the children. "You knew they were going to be so happy on Christmas Day." Powell has been a Key Clubber for all four years of high school, and this is her first year as president.
Photo - @keyclub.gphs
Another activity put into motion by the Key Club was a bunk bed building activity, where Key Club members assisted in building beds for children and families in need through an organization called Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Member Danika Chandler reflects on her service time: “It was fun to see everyone doing just a small part and how it can lead to something a lot bigger.” Danika also loved how Key Club has allowed her to meet new friends from different schools and clubs around the area. “The people who I saw [there], we talked a lot and got to connect in a different way than just being at school.” Danika has been a member for 4 years now.
Last week, Key Club completed its first community service act of the year: a total of 10 Key Club members, plus additional Kiwanis members, took a trip out to Wildlife Images to assist in cleaning up the bear pen. These members trimmed vegetation, raked leaves, and weed-eated. This activity is an annual event in which Key Clubbers participate yearly. Some upcoming events for this year that the Key Club may be participating in include volunteering with the JoCo food bank, Salvation Army bell-ringing, and wrapping presents for Christmas time.
Key Club has their meetings every 2nd and 4th Wednesday during lunch in Mrs. Morales’ room (room 233). Any person interested in joining the Key Club is welcome to attend a meeting to determine if Key Club is the right fit for them! All fees for Key Club are covered for this year, so joining is free (excluding T-shirts). If you want to build your leadership skills, get community service hours for your resume, or meet new people, consider volunteering with the Key Club!
Social Media
Remind: Text "@gphskey" to 81010
Instagram: @keyclub.gphs
Resources
Key Club International
