By Peter Bernardino
If we’re lucky, December is a happy time. There are decorations, lights, and a nice festive spirit in the air. However, not everyone is able to enjoy all of these things.
This year, Lovett’s Student Government Association (SGA) aimed to ensure that many more people could enjoy the holiday season. They did this by selling candy grams and donating the money to Agape.
Agape is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping underserved students and families in Atlanta. They offer services such as tutoring and after-school programs. They also have a grand holiday gift store during December. Ms. Turner, the Director of Civic and Global Engagement, told me that “Lovett has a relationship with Agape that goes back more than a decade.”
According to the Agape website, the organization “provides gifts for over 600 children from underserved children and families.”
Jacob Ying, the tenth-grade SGA president, told me that the candy grams have been an awesome success. “It’s super easy to do and it’s fun,” he said. “People want to send their friends or their crushes or whatever.”
According to Ms. Hooker, the high school “raised about one hundred dollars from students purchasing a total of seventy-five candy canes.” “I do believe that the total amount of money raised is more,” Ms. Hooker, the senior Dean of Students, stated. This is due to the fact that some people donated just money and not candy grams.
The process of making and shipping a candygram is surprisingly simple. All you have to do is donate a few dollars, put the recipient’s name on a card, and wait. After a week, the SGA should have delivered the sweet and delicious candy cane to your desired person.
Another important initiative that Lovett undertakes with Agape is the toy drive. (The reason why this toy drive is important is that the money raised from the candy grams helps fund the store where the toys are given out.) Every year, Lovett donates toys to Agape, which families receive for free during the Christmas season. “It’s a really neat thing.” Ms. Turner stated. “These families get to go in and choose what their families want and what their kids dream about.”
What’s awesome about this drive is that the entire school (not just the high school) participates in it. Each year, Lovett donates thousands of toys, which is far more than any other organization donates to Agape.
“They did write to us and tell us, we gave more, donated more items than any other group that they worked with, and they were so grateful,” Ms. Turner stated.
Later in the year, the SGA plans to conduct more fundraisers to help more underprivileged students. “We’re certainly going to talk about doing it,” Jacob said. He believes it is essential to continue lending a hand to those less fortunate.
“Everyone wants to feel loved and happy,” he said.
Including the people who will receive a candygram. It’s certainly why Savannah Jones, a junior, sent one to her friend. “I hoped it would put a smile on her face,” she said. “Especially during a strenuous exam week.”
