In a show of generosity and leadership, students at Chagrin Falls High School organized a new service project this November to support senior citizens across Geauga County. Through the Interact Club, students “adopted” 47 local seniors as part of Geauga County Job and Family Services’ annual holiday program. Each senior received a hand-packed gift bag filled with essential items and messages of care.
What began as a club initiative quickly became a building-wide effort, with classrooms, clubs, and athletic teams joining in to spread kindness this season. Inside the gift bags were simple but meaningful items: nonperishable food, socks, hats, gloves, puzzle books, and handwritten notes from students. For the seniors, many of whom live alone, these thoughtful touches often mean as much as the gifts themselves. The county’s program typically supports about 130 lower-income seniors each year.
The Interact Club, advised by Janet Coriell and Karen Sindelar, guided the effort but it was students who led the charge. From organizing sign-ups to distributing names and managing timelines, members took ownership of every step. Their enthusiasm spread quickly through the halls, drawing in new participants who wanted to help brighten someone else’s holiday season.
“A lot of the elderly don’t have families and struggle through the holidays,” said Alana Nykulak, a sophomore and Interact Club vice president. “This is a chance to give back and make someone’s year through the kindness of a stranger.”
As the project grew, the art department joined in to add a creative, personal touch to the gifts. Eighteen Digital Photography and Digital Portfolio Prep students each selected three of their original photographs they thought would make a meaningful gift. They also wrote personal letters to accompany the prints, sharing kind words, well-wishes, and a bit about themselves and their art.
Meanwhile, students in ceramics classes created handcrafted snowflake and snow-person ornaments, learning a new technique called water etching using two methods of “resist.” Each student completed two pieces, one to keep and one to gift to a senior. The finished ornaments are now in the kiln, and students will soon add ribbon before delivering them with the holiday packages.
“Seeing that basic necessities we always have access to can be a blessing for someone else really makes you think,” Nykulak added. “My time feels valuable when I use it to help others.”
In early November, club members gathered during Tiger Period in the school library to assemble five additional bags sponsored by the club itself. Then, on November 20, a truck from Geauga County Job and Family Services arrived to collect all 47 completed bags.
“It’s important to give back to our community and share kindness, especially during the holiday season,” said Eveleen Malley, a senior and Interact Club president. “Adopting a senior is a great way to include everyone and spread holiday cheer.”
Malley said her favorite part of Interact is watching others get involved.
“I love participating in service, but even more, I love helping others find ways to give back,” she said. “You never know what someone else is going through—even a little support can go a long way.”
For the students who led and supported the project from organizing to creating, packing, and crafting this effort became more than a service project. It was a lesson in empathy, collaboration, and the impact that creativity and care can have on others.
