Students spread holiday cheer to homeless peers

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Students from Christ the King School and Lexington Catholic High School are helping make Christmas brighter for Fayette County students experiencing homelessness, collecting hundreds of gifts through the FCPS McKinney-Vento Program.

The McKinney-Vento Program supports students and families facing housing instability, and this holiday season it’s getting a boost thanks to a partnership with local Catholic schools and the Catholic Action Center.

For the past month, eighth-grade students at Christ the King worked independently to purchase and collect gifts, many using their own money or contributing alongside their families. The goal was simple: make sure students in the McKinney-Vento Program don’t go without during the holidays.

Kelley Taylor, a school program coordinator, said the effort is about more than just gift-giving.

“The real mission for us is teaching kids to want to give back at Christmastime, to share Christmas spirit and joy with another child,” Taylor said. “It’s about giving up something they might want themselves and making that sacrifice.”

The effort is part of a four-year partnership between the Catholic Action Center, Christ the King School, Lexington Catholic High School and the FCPS McKinney-Vento Program. Organizers say younger students typically receive two gifts, while older students — ages 13 and up — are supported through donations from Lexington Catholic.

“They shop based on the ages of the kids in each family,” Taylor said. “Lexington Catholic helps us make sure the older kids don’t get left out.”

On Tuesday, students gathered at the Mother Teresa Shelter, assembling “Santa bags” filled with toys and thoughtful surprises for each child. For younger students, watching the gifts sit in classrooms before delivery wasn’t always easy — but educators say that was part of the lesson.

“That’s what makes it really meaningful,” Taylor said. “They realize the sacrifice they’re making.”

Students involved say the experience helped them understand the importance of compassion and giving.

“Just helping them feel that love and warmth on Christmas morning,” said student Avery Post. “A lot of kids don’t get to experience that, and it’s special we get to help change that.”

Student Jack Clickner said the effort reflects values he believes are important.

“We’re doing something for the less fortunate — something Jesus would want us to do,” Clickner said. “It keeps us humble and helps kids who really need it.”

Organizers say more than 600 gifts were collected this year, all destined for Fayette County students and families in need.