Plainfield South’s Key Club is preparing for upcoming holiday projects set to help the community, giving back to those in need. Key Club is an international student led service organization that involves student and community service, based on developing leadership skills to help the community. There are actually more than 5000 key club chapters spanning across 40 countries.

This is the third full year that substitute teacher and key club leader Mika Dowling has been asked by students to lead their initiatives.

Dowling said the club’s biggest month this year was September, when they helped with Hells Angels. Dowling also mentioned how October’s biggest project was doing activities for national bullying prevention month.

“For November and December, we’ll probably focus more on holiday themes, families in the community [unable] to afford Christmas, see things for Thanksgiving, and [assist in making] cookies and cocoa for bus drivers,” Dowling said.

According to Dowling, this year has been amazing. She receives emails from students for ideas and students pass her in the hallway with ideas. She said the students are really excited and involved for events.

“I love the idea of a club that’s run by its members. Everyone cares about the events we do. I went to a meeting and when I did, the environment was very welcoming,” said club member, sophomore Andrew Orozco.

Orozco believes that his role in Key Club is to help with whatever is needed the best he can, and he enjoys doing so alongside friends.

“[I find joy in] doing activities for the community and especially doing them with my friends. I find joy in doing them with people I’m close with and know,” Orozco said.

Some joined key club to try it out, not knowing what it was, or how they wanted to help  the community. 

“I didn’t know what it [was] and the concept [was cool],” said sophomore Jaylon Bailey.

According to Bailey, one of his favorite memories from Key Club is the Hell’s Angels football game, where they celebrated kids who survived cancer or who are going through cancer.

“[I’m looking forward to putting] more effort in. I fail hard when it comes to doing more out of school, so I plan to do more out of [school] activities,” said Bailey.

Key club’s job is to help the community out in any way that it can, whether it be giving cards or helping those unable to afford certain things, they are working to help.

According to sophomore Darina Kolimechkova, Key Club’s motto is to “leave the world better than you found it.”

Kolimechkova said that due to Key Club, she’s managed to get out of her shell contributing to an array of cool ideas, and she notes  being part of the club just makes a difference.

Kolimechkova said that one thing she’s excited for is “discussing the importance of mental health discussions in the school environment and resources with our Principal Mrs. Smith.” 

Key club is always looking for new members, and Kolimechkova said that if anyone was interested in Key Club, they should find her or any of the board, as they are welcome to all newcomers.