By Natalie Herr ‘25
This 2023-2024 school year CVHS participated in something new during the Christmas season – Operation Spread the Joy. The Christmas season is also known as the giving season, and CVHS was more than ready to give back.
Many local organizations were showered with cards and gift packages. The organizations ranged from children’s hospitals, to nursing homes and hospice, to a Spanish Civic Senior Center, to a rehab for drug and alcohol abuse.
The idea came from a conversation between Counselor Jillian Stauffer and High School Principal Dr. Matthew Fox. “Mrs. Stauffer talked to me, because every month, she’s a part of the Character Strong committee,” Dr. Fox explained. “We basically meet a month ahead and start talking about what we can do.”
As they discussed the needs of the community around the holidays, they realized that CV could meet some of those needs.
“Her personal story [of] when her family went through some of these things really pushed us in that direction,” Smith continued. “We were researching different organizations around us that could use a little uplift.”
Mrs. Stauffer wanted to tell her story in order to help people understand the real meaning behind the event and why it was so important to her.
“I have a connection with a hospice nurse who cared for my mom when she was dying a couple of years ago,” she said. “I’ve stayed in touch with her. And [I] have always wanted to do something for hospice.”
The main goal was for students to make cards for local organizations to spread some cheer, love, and appreciation.
“I think it’a a good message that it’s bigger than just us,” Dr. Fox said. “Especially when we get around Christmas time, it’s sometimes easy to think just about ourselves and what we’re getting and what we’re doing.”
Mrs. Stauffer added, “I think that teenagers can offer a lot of hope, and I think they are good at understanding other people.”
“I think that part of life is about learning how to help other people, so if I can demonstrate and be an example and other people to follow in my footsteps, then we are a greater force in numbers,” she continued.
Dr. Fox and Mrs. Staffer both have heartwarming hopes for what can come out of this initiative.
Dr. Matthew Fox said: “What I would hope for is that all residents each receive a card and a gift. So in a perfect world, I would say we’re probably close to let’s say 7 or 800 cards going out. My ideal world is that I would have every resident that is accounted for get something.”
Mrs. Stauffer added: “I hope that somebody gets a card and goes ‘Wow, those teenagers are really cool, they really care.'”
Based on the number of cards and effort they invested, CV students proved her point. “What I liked most was knowing that the card was going to someone special, and that it would make that special person smile,” said Adrian Rivera (12).
Although they may not hear back from every recipient, students at CV can celebrate the fact that they helped make someone’s holiday a little lighter.
