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That's a wrap!
Hoisington FCCLA members showing Valentine warmth in record cold
HoisingtonFCCLA
Hoisington High School FCCLA members Troy White, Tyler Reif and Tamari Howard assemble wraps and other food items to be taken to the warming shelter on Saturday, Feb. 13.

HOISINGTON — In the midst of the current polar vortex, food and warm shelter are precious. Thanks to some innovative students, the Hoisington High School chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) extended a fundraising initiative into a two-day outreach for individuals and families in need. 

It all began with a concessions stand on Feb. 13 and 14 at the Great Bend Convention Center during the Thompson Gymnastics meet. The HHS FCCLA had some challenges to overcome, according to club adviser Karla Reisner.  

First, what to serve?  “We couldn’t serve hot food like we did a year ago due to COVID,” said Reisner. “So we decided on snack wraps and snack foods like candy, packaged crackers, packaged cookies, etc.”  

She added the group had about 50 wraps left over and didn’t know exactly what to do with them. That’s when sophomore FCCLA member Troy White proposed the idea of donating the wraps to the local warming shelter that had been set up in the Village Mall in the former Ace Hardware building next to Heartland Community Church.  

“I’m sure they could really use them and it’s cold outside,” White said.  

Before approaching Reisner, White discussed the idea with fellow FCCLA members Tamari Howard and Tyler Reif. 

“This money maker turned into a community service project, so it’s a win-win,” said Reif. 

Reisner said it took two vehicles to transfer the food to the shelter. “We continued to sell candy inside and load up stuff inside while the young men organized and loaded stuff into a pickup and a school vehicle,” she said.  “Troy was with his grandfather and they headed over to the shelter, where they were greeted with smiling faces.” 

Howard added there was a tremendous sense of satisfaction in working for the benefit of others.

“They are going to love this,” he said, “I feel great about the good deed we just did.”

FCCLA is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences education in public and private school through grade 6-12. Since 1945, the goal of FCCLA members has been to make a difference in their families, careers and communities by addressing personal, work and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education.