The annual Hope for the Holidays event drive has far surpassed the donation goal this year, receiving a total amount of $10,030 over the three week donation period.

All the money raised will go toward helping 32 families at Timber Creek so that they can experience the kind of joy this holiday season that nobody should ever have to go without.

“We go shopping for those families based on their wish lists and we give back in that regard – giving them gifts for the holiday season that maybe they can’t get otherwise,” said National Honor Society sponsor Cerissa Johnson.

NHS officers and lead representatives met at Panera on Tuesday night to get to know each other and discuss the shopping they would soon be doing. Over a dozen NHS members then traveled to Kohl’s for their first round of shopping. After purchasing the most crucial items first, like jeans, coats and shirts, they moved on to Target to buy everything else the families may need this Holiday season.

“We were able to spend about $300 per family to get them everything that they needed and hopefully more,” said NHS Vice President Caroline Oliphint.

A wrapping party will be held this Friday during which NHS members will wrap all of the gifts they bought and deliver them to the counseling office. The families will then pick up their presents before school lets out for winter break.

The class that raised the most money this year is Mrs. Groter’s Junior English class. The three-time reigning champion’s students brought in a total of $2,760. All of her classes will receive an ice cream party and the winning department will get a Cookout Lunch provided by Mr. Bartlett himself.

“I think that is an amazing show of your efforts and your hearts, to contribute back to your very own peers,” said Johnson. “By your donations, you have touched the lives of someone. You have made a difference this holiday season.”