On Sunday, Dec. 4, Key Club participated in the annual Stocking Stuffing Party, held in The Oviedo Mall’s Community Room. The event was supervised by the president of the Kiwanis Club, Bill Hyde, who organizes the event every year.

About 50-100 volunteers from different organizations came to help stuff the holiday socks with candy, toys, toothbrushes and combs, all of which were collected throughout the year during discounted sales.  

Ten members volunteered, earning three hours of community service hours, required each quarter by Key Club. Since the event was held at the Oviedo Mall, volunteers got the opportunity to hang around the mall, browse stores in the mall and come back to the event.

The organization and unloading of products needed for the event started at 12:30 p.m.; however, the actual event didn’t start until 2 p.m, and ended at 5 p.m.

The event consisted of volunteers going around tables and picking up a variety of items, stuffing them in red holiday socks and putting them in boxes to be shipped. The boxes stuffed by volunteers will be handed out to organizations such as Matthew’s Hope and police departments including Oviedo, Winter Springs, Sanford and St. Cloud. Once distributed, departments give them to underprivileged kids.

“Seeing all the people together and having fun while doing good work is one of the main reasons why we hold this event,”  Hyde said. “This event is all about getting together as a community, giving out the stockings and spreading Christmas cheer every year.”