A Season of Service: Colonial Forge NHS Spreads Holiday Cheer
The holiday season at Colonial Forge High School shines a little brighter this year, thanks to the generosity and teamwork of the National Honor Society. Continuing a cherished tradition of community service, the chapter “adopted” a family in need—coordinating donations of gifts, clothing, and essential items to help ensure a joyful celebration.
Each December, Forge’s National Honor Society chapter collaborates with faculty to identify a family facing financial hardship. Once the family’s needs and wish lists are shared, members eagerly step into action, signing up to donate various gifts from the family’s lists. Students collected a wide range of items, including winter clothing, toys and games, hygiene products, and gift cards.
NHS Chapter sponsors, Courtney Kreft and Megan Struder, along with officers Rachel Bartunek, Abigail Nyinaku, Rydell Wilkins, Savannah Staton, and Sofia Crago, organized the donation period and managed collection efforts from members throughout the school. After creating sign-up lists with wishlist items to be supplied, gifts were bought, turned in, and prepared to be sent off in packages. During planning periods, the NHS officer team set to work wrapping gifts, labeling packages, and preparing deliveries just in time for winter break.
This project perfectly reflects the four pillars of NHS: character, scholarship, leadership, and service. Students demonstrated leadership by planning and managing the initiative, character through their empathy and sense of responsibility, and service by dedicating their time and resources to others. The effort also reinforced the academic and personal values NHS promotes, showing that learning extends beyond lessons in the classroom and into real-world acts of kindness.
“I strongly believe that this tradition is essential for NHS to continue, as it has a significant positive impact on our community” Colonial Forge’s NHS chapter historian, Sofia Crago, says. “During the holiday season, these efforts not only foster a sense of togetherness and generosity, but also provide much-needed support to those in need.”
The adopted family initiative joins the chapter’s other service activities, such as food drives, community cleanups, and school-sponsored events. However, this tradition holds special significance, highlighting the importance of empathy during a time of year that can be especially challenging for families struggling to make ends meet.
“I feel that we are making an impact when sponsoring a family for Christmas because every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a difference. Bringing joy to a family this year may inspire them to help others later in life, continuing the cycle of kindness” chapter President Rachel Bartunek says. “Even helping one family each year makes me feel that what we do at NHS is truly meaningful because of the positive impact we can have on people's lives.”
By uniting to support families, the Colonial Forge NHS chapter demonstrates how collective action can create meaningful change. Through this project, students learn that giving is about more than presents: it is about strengthening connections, sharing compassion, and building a school community grounded in service and care.
