No, we don’t make keys
Key Club participates in community service, gets new mentor
Photo by Faith Rhone
Members Katie Shupe, Sarah Stark and Libby Northam prepare gifts for the service project Operation Christmas Child
Key Club at Texas High has nothing to do with keys. The organization, a high school aged branch of Kiwanis, is dedicated to helping the community through hard work and service. Throughout the year, Key Clubbers give their time, efforts and money to various service projects that work to make the world a better place. As members of the largest service organization in the world, Key Club members get the opportunity to give back to their community, all under the sponsorship of Freshman English teacher Holly Mooneyham.
“I was asked by Keely Johnson if I’d be interested in the job,” Mooneyham said. “I told her I’d give it a try.”
Mooneyham has embraced her first year as sponsor, replacing Jennifer Biggar. The English teacher has been balancing teaching her six classes and coaching the UIL Ready Writing team. With the addition of Key Club sponsorship, Mooneyham has enjoyed a very busy first few months.
“For my first year, it’s been a little overwhelming,” Mooneyham said. “It’s a good bunch of kids though.”
Despite having only sponsored for a few months, Mooneyham has already been impressed by the charity of Key Club members.
“They work hard. They’re unselfish. They are here to give,” Mooneyham said. “They’re here to give their time and their energy and even their money to help.”
This willingness to give help is clearly evident this year. Already, the club has done several community service projects with Mooneyham’s guidance.
“So far, we helped with the Red Lick Fall Festival, we built Operation Christmas Child boxes and we helped at Race for the Cure,” senior Olivia Blann said. “We’re doing more this year than we normally do. It’s really exciting.”
The benefits of all this community service extend beyond quality of character. Many members earn a hefty number of service hours.
“It’s really good getting involved,” Blann said. “And also getting the community service hours for college.”
The Key Club members are looking forward to an eventful second semester. At the same time, Mooneyham is looking forward to continuing to work with the club.
“I’ve been impressed thus far.” Mooneyham said. “It’s all been very, very rewarding.”
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