By NICOLE BREZINSKI

The Mirror reporter

Almost everyone enjoys the happiness associated with the holidays and cannot wait for Christmas morning.  A lot of people think the season is filled with joy, presents, big dinner feasts and family. In some cases, though, families do not have enough money to provide big meals and gifts and usually struggle through the holiday.

Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) students want to make a difference and change a stressful holiday into a happy and memorable one.  Through SPASH clubs, many students are giving their time to help with various holiday projects.

Clubs and teams like Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Club (FCCLA), Key Club, the SPASH boys hockey team, National Honor Society (NHS) and FFA are all working to make the holiday season special for families in need.

Every year FCCLA members put together smalls gifts like markers, stuffed animals, miniature kid toys, games and more into packages and send them to kids at the Crisis Center in Stevens Point.

“I participated in the care package making last year and I will again this year because it made such a happy impact on the kids and I love to spread the joy,” Stephanie Pederson said.

Key Club is, with the sponsorship of the Plover Kiwanis, participating in the Holiday Basket program. They will supply gifts and food to a low income household in Portage County. Key Club members also made holiday cards for a nursing home, participated in Salvation Army bell ringing sessions and served a meal at Place of Peace with members of the Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church.

The SPASH boys hockey team is also putting together a couple gift baskets and delivering them to families in need.

“Making someone’s day can be as easy as bringing in a few food items or toiletries to the basket and the smile on families faces when the team delivers the basket is priceless,” Philip Trzebiatowski said.

National Honor Society members are volunteering at the Children’s Christmas Event at the Community Childcare Center and have play dates with the kids.  In addition, NHS members, are bell ringing for the Salvation Army.

“I had a blast with my friends bell ringing because we sang Christmas carols and almost everyone who came to the store donated money,” NHS member Brittney Flugaur said.

Students not directly involved with these clubs were still able to help during the holiday season. FFA asked anyone who was able to bring in non-perishable goods or canned foods to a box in their second hour classes for a holiday food drive.