The Huntington High School Key Club has been on the front lines of trying to make the community and world a better place for decades.
Huntington’s Key Club chapter is one of the oldest on Long Island and it has always been among the best, too. That same tradition continues today.
Key Club members have never been afraid of rolling up their sleeves and getting down to work. Charlotte Cheshire serves as president of Huntington’s Key Club. The executive board includes Morgan Colleluori (vice president), Alexis Kaloudis (treasurer), Sarah Berry (secretary), Victoria Befumo (publicist) and Ainsley Proctor (attendance officer). English teachers Kelly Krycinski and Gina Collica are the organization’s dedicated faculty advisors.
“Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for high school students in the world,” according to the national organization’s website. It has approximately 251,000 members in more than 5,000 clubs spread across 40 countries.
For decades, the Huntington Key Club brought financially needy children on a holiday shopping tour through Sears stores, first at the Big H Shopping Center and later in East Northport. Following Sears’ closure, club members started bringing kids on a shopping spree at the Target store located on Jericho Turnpike in Huntington.
This year’s tour was held last Saturday. “The tour was a huge success,” Ms. Cheshire said. “Every year, the Huntington High School Key Club partners with Kiwanis to help families and children in need during the holiday season. Our members partnered up and worked side-by-side with local children in need to help them shop for winter essentials, such as coats and boots. Members then brought everything to Half Hollow Hills West and wrapped the clothes as well as donated toys. It was such a rewarding experience and a great way to give back and help the children have a nice holiday season.”
Seeing the smiles on the faces of the youngsters touched the hearts of the high school Key Club members.
“Our advisors, Mrs. Krycinski and Mrs. Colica and all of our officers worked very hard to organize and run such a special event, especially since we were not able to hold it last year due to COVID-19,” Ms. Cheshire said.
