STARKVILLE — For many, Christmas is a time of celebration, but for others, the season is filled with the pressure of trying to make ends meet.
The Starkville Strong Youth Coalition is looking to relieve some of that pressure Monday with its inaugural Holiday Stocking Stuffer Drive, where those in need can take home bags filled with toys, food and essential items.
Brandon Seo, vice president for the coalition and a Starkville High School freshman, said the goal of the event is to ensure everyone in Starkville can have a merry Christmas.
“We wanted the underserved population in Starkville to have a Christmas without worrying about what they are going to do about food, necessities and gifts,” he said.
The coalition will collect donations of food, drinks, hygiene products, blankets, clothing, toys, stockings and gift bags up until the event Monday. Donations can be dropped off in the designated boxes at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection on North Montgomery Street, Bridgeway Church on North Jackson Street and Dunkington on Lafayette Street.
President Joseph Thompson, also a freshman at SHS, told The Dispatch each gift bag will be categorized by age – child, teen and adult – and gender, with donations tailored to each group. Volunteers are invited to help hand out bags from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday at Fire Station Park.
“We plan on setting up tables at Fire Station Park and putting the gift bags on the tables for attendees to pick up,” he said. “Volunteers will stand behind the tables helping attendees gather the gift bags they need and help the attendees carry the bags to their cars.”
The drive is the coalition’s semester service project, which is designed to give students a firsthand look at the issues affecting people in the city, Starkville Strong Executive Director Brandi Herrington said.
“Exposing them to community issues and having proximity to real humans who are experiencing real struggles just cultivates empathy and understanding,” she said. “It allows them to ask questions and get answers and shapes their overall experience moving forward.”
The coalition also ensures there will always be people in the community dedicated to addressing the social issues affecting Starkville, she said.
“The premise (of the youth coalition) is that after we are all older and maybe not able to put our time and energy into this mission, it’s the younger generation that’s going to pick up the baton to carry it on,” Herrington said.
Thompson said plans for the drive have been in the works for the last month. The youth plan each aspect of the event from start to finish, Herrington said.
“They send me updates and things to look over for approval just to make sure they’re headed in the right direction … but otherwise, it’s theirs,” she said.
Thompson hopes the drive garners more involvement from community members in serving people in need.
“We hope that with this event, the community can … support the underserved community of Starkville and encourage generosity towards those in need,” he said. “We also want the community to have a merry Christmas this year full of essential supplies and gifts.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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