HUHS H-Club: Bringing Holiday Cheer to Rogers Foundation’s Gift Drive

Written by Cassidy, H-Club President
Hartford Union High School

As the leadership team of Hartford Union High School’s H-Club, we’re incredibly proud of what our school community accomplished this year during Rogers Foundation’s Holiday Gift Drive. With the support of our amazing students, staff, and families, we raised over $1,300 and collected countless comfort items like toys, blankets, and socks to bring joy to patients at Rogers Behavioral Health during the holiday season.

This marks our second year participating in the drive, and it’s inspiring to know the positive impact our efforts will have on patients in treatment. The comfort and joy our donations bring remind us of the importance of this tradition. Supporting individuals during the holidays, especially those facing difficult times, makes every moment of effort truly rewarding.

“As H-Club leaders,” says Cassidy, H-Club President, “we saw the impact last year’s drive had, and we knew we wanted to make an even greater difference this time around. Watching our school community come together in such an inspiring way to support mental health has been incredible.”

This year along with years past, we transformed the drive into a school-wide effort. With the guidance of our amazing teacher advisor, Mrs. Helms, we got creative—organizing everything from social media posts to colorful posters and even visiting classrooms to spread the word. We added a fun competitive twist, offering a pizza party to the top-donating classes, which motivated students and staff alike to get heavily involved. It’s safe to say that the entire school—1,350 students and staff—rallied behind this cause, showing incredible empathy and generosity.

One of the most meaningful moments for us was delivering the donations to our Rogers’ representative.

“Hearing firsthand how these items would make a difference for patients was so powerful,” shared Izzy. “It reminded us all that this is so much more than a gift drive—it’s a way to connect with people who might be feeling lonely or struggling this time of year.”

“As we helped load up the donations and saw the gratitude on the face of the Rogers’ representative who came to our school to pick them up, it made everything we did feel so worth it,” added Ashton. “Seeing their appreciation and hearing how these items would bring comfort and hope to patients during a tough time is something we’ll carry with us for a long time.”

Mental health is something that touches everyone in some way, and this drive gave us the chance to come together as a community to support a cause that resonates with all of us. For many in H-Club, it’s a deeply personal mission, and hearing similar stories from classmates as the drive gained momentum only strengthened our commitment.

“We’re showing people they’re not alone,” said Lilly. “That’s what this drive is really about.”

Jake added,

“This is more than just raising donations—it’s about building a sense of compassion and unity. Supporting mental health is something we can all connect with, and it’s a way for us to live out what H-Club stands for.”

The 2024 Holiday Gift Drive was about more than gifts—it was about hope, comfort, and the power of community. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s drive such a success. Together, we’re making the holidays a little brighter for those who need it most.