By Christina Burke
Features Editor

Winter break is creeping up on the students and faculty of Coppell High School, and with that comes the shift in focus from desired grades to a greater and more materialistic wish list.

During a time period where much is handed out, it is important to remember to reciprocate with the action of giving.

As a community, Coppell has plenty of wonderful things to be grateful for and plenty of families who will be able to provide themselves with a joyful holiday season. With that realization, many students have found it in their hearts to give back this holiday season in an attempt to make other people’s holidays as memorable as theirs.

Student Council is currently promoting its Toys for Tots service project. Aiming to provide as many underprivileged kids toys from Santa as possible, Student Council is asking every single CHS student and faculty member make an effort to make a donation.

“It’s exciting to know that a child who may have gotten nothing will receive a toy this holiday season through us,” junior Jodi Palmer said. “Student Council’s goal is for every member to donate one new and unused toy to Toys for Tots.”

Another student organization, Coppell Distributed Education Clubs of America [DECA] is partaking in a holiday service project of its own through the inspiration of the Texas DECA organization. The “Show You Care, Build-A-Bear!” community service project allows for DECA participants to give back to kids in their community with a little creative freedom.

In groups of two to three people, the students will take over Build-A-Bear creating and purchasing unique bears for kids in need. They plan to make several of these bears and deliver them to children in the area.

“We chose to do this because we thought it would be a better way to reach out to kids who are greatly in need,” senior DECA president Savana Christianson said. “We want them to feel loved through this, especially in this holiday season. I’m glad that we can share God’s love through something so simple.”

The Cowgirl volleyball program partakes in an annual project to give back to others during the holiday season. Each year, the teammates adopt a family who needs help to celebrate a merry Christmas. This year, the girls raised over $350 to give their family the Christmas that they deserve but cannot obtain by their own means.

“We did this with coach [Julie] Green last year as well, and it is truly an amazing feeling knowing that these kids will wake up with smiles on their faces Christmas morning and that we are a little part of the reason why,” junior Kate Dicken said.

With so much to live for and hearts to give, CHS students are helping make the holiday season a magical time for families who need extra help. Through these experiences, they have learned how beneficial it can be to extend a helping hand to others and give other kids the things that they are already able to have.

“Giving means that you are able to put aside your own wants in order to acknowledge someone else’s for their own benefit,” Dicken said. “It should not be a pity or glory thing, but a true gift to give out of the goodness of your heart, and there is not another feeling that can match it.”