– Photos courtesy of LCSC
The Lebanon High School Key Club and Zonta Club joined forces to host a Stuffed Animal Drive, which turned into a friendly rivalry with Western Boone High School, that proved to be a district-wide success with over 300 stuffed animals donated.
The program was initially planned for Hattie B. Stokes Elementary, but the overwhelming response from donors allowed the clubs to extend their generosity to kindergarten classrooms across the district.
The project was born out of a collaboration between the clubs through their combined mission and their natural emergence with sharing officers. The idea for the stuffed animal drive originated in a Zonta Club officer meeting where students proposed the collaboration with Key Club sponsor Bill Hiatt.
“I love collaborating with other clubs because it amplifies our impact, both in terms of the people serving and those served,” Hiatt said. “What made this project extra special is that the students approached me with an almost complete plan. They found a way to brighten the day of people they may never even meet, and I’ve watched them grow into young leaders who improve the world around them just because they can.”
Key Club senior Grace Tiefel also shared her perspective on how the project transitioned from a proposal to reality.
“We wanted to put a fresh spin on our annual coat drive competition with WeBo,” Tiefel said. “The stuffed animals drive idea grew from there, and we collected over 300 stuffed animals throughout the week and at the game–which gave Lebanon three wins in one night.”
For many of the students, especially those in Key Club, the project was a reflection of the club’s broader mission of community service, character building and leadership development. Senior Ava Susong reflected on her time with the Key Club, which reflects in the mission of the drive as well.
“Participating in Key Club has been one of the greatest decisions I’ve made,” Susong said. “It’s taught me the value of community service and helped me build lasting connections while also bettering the city and supporting our youth.”
The members of the clubs who brought the magic of giving to numerous kindergarten classrooms include:
- Laura Argotte
- Joey Reinhardt
- Leila Richards
- Avi Haimov
- William Meyer
- Carley Adams
- Ava Susong
- Annija Adiene
- Haley Tiefel
- Maddie Welty
- Paige Jones
- Kinley Young
- Lillian Faulkerson
- Emma Nienaber
- Nate Donner
- Josie Pratt
- Bill Hiatt, LHS Teacher and Key Club Sponsor
