Project North Pole

Project North Pole is how our club provides our LaGrange Rotary Youth Challenge (LRYC) students with Christmas gifts. Rotary members donate funds and their time to buy, wrap and deliver needed gifts for the students. In addition to the presents each student also receives a stocking filled with both treats and practical items. The older students receive gift cards to be redeemed at local retail stores after the holiday when their funds will go a bit further.

Since we have had these same children from first grade, over the years strong bonds between the students, their families and our club members have formed. Each year the best part of this project is when the presents are delivered and we have the opportunity to chat with the students and their families.

We now try to meet the students, and or their guardians, in the nearby Starbucks' parking lot to distribute the Christmas gifts. It is quite surprising when the older students now drive themselves to meet to pick up their gifts. For some of our other students it is necessary to drop off their presents at their homes.

The length of this project has given us the opportunity to watch and be a small part of the growth of these amazing individuals. This year we spent $360 for our six remaining students.