A UHS Tradition Like No Other

 

     I said goodbye to an old friend this year.  It was an unceremonious end to something that had been part of my life for over two decades, and had connected me with hundreds of students that went way beyond the classroom.  After 22 years, the UHS Toys for Tots Holiday Party succumbed to age and Covid, and I’m feeling a decent mix of relief and sadness.  But, I think the biggest takeaway, for myself, is wondering if I will ever feel the same sense of togetherness and community that I saw between the students, parents, teachers, and local businesses for all these years.

     The Holiday Party was born in a small US History class of mine in 1997.  There was a push either locally or at the state level to get students more involved with the community.  Uxbridge High School created a requirement for students to get a certain amount of volunteer hours in order to graduate (something I found to be oxymoronic and counterintuitive, but whatever).  This particular class latched onto it, showing an enthusiasm that I hadn’t expected, and it energized me.  This was a group of students who, on average, didn’t care much for school or grades, and were not looking for volunteer hours to get into National Honor Society.  They legitimately just wanted to make a difference to someone in some way.  So we brainstormed.

     The original plan was to raise money, buy some gifts, and deliver them to kids who were spending Christmas in the hospital, but we quickly threw it out, citing confidentiality and health regulations.  The next idea was to raise money and put on a party at the high school for children in the community who might be struggling.  With the help of the guidance department and some local businesses, we invited a small group of young children, set up a buffet of snacks, gave them wrapped presents, brought in a magician, and played some games. It was far from a success, as only 10 kids showed up.  The intention was good, but the game plan was not.  Back to the drawing board.

     The next year, we kept the same goal, but changed the route to get there.  Someone proposed that we still plan the same type of party, but now invite any children under 10 (with adults to supervise).  We would supply the food, the games, the prizes, the music, the crafts, and get Santa to visit. In return, we would ask attendees to bring in a new toy or clothing item that we would send along to Adopt-an-Angel in town.  We didn’t know how this would work, and to say it was anxiety inducing is an understatement, but it went well, and we started planning for the following year right away.

     Starting with year 3, the event, officially dubbed the UHS Toys for Tots Holiday Party, took off like a rocket.  Local businesses were very generous with money and supplies.  More and more students got involved.  More teachers got involved.  We sent out invitations to every student in the elementary school.  We had official STAFF shirts made up (thanks to the late Ron Paszkewicz).  We got the REAL Santa (thanks to Russ Wise as a connection).  A cardboard box maze was incorporated, and became the hit of the night, growing every year.  We had a DJ for a number of years.  The rooms for bowling, basketball, ring toss, bean bag toss, crafts, reindeer dust, and any other idea we could come up with, were packed. One year, the size of the crowd got us so nervous that we expanded to the second floor the following year.  Best of all, by the end of the night the collection of toys donated numbered in the hundreds every year.

      Coincidentally and serendipitously, the Uxbridge First Night originated the same year we did, and an alliance was formed between the two groups that lasted for two decades.  We held our party on Friday night, they held their event on Saturday night.  They let us borrow their popcorn and cotton candy machines (along with supplies needed, for free), and we would send students to help them in return. The generosity of this group was a long standing support that we could not have gone without.

     Unfortunately, time wins all contests.  This wonderful event that had endured snow storms, a change to a new high school, 9/11, a great recession, and a plethora of smaller crises (at least to us), finally succumbed to Covid.  The shut down last year, along with the unknowns of this year made us realize that it might be the perfect time to put it to pasture.  It is unfair to ask businesses to donate when they are struggling so much.  Parents would, fairly, keep their kids home instead of mingling with so many others.  Mask mandates would restrict the smiles. We also realized how old fashioned the event was in this technologically advanced world.  It started to feel like a traveling carnival, the kind that used to be fun, but now just feels old and cheesy.  And, if I’m being totally honest, I was feeling old, too.

     So, this is the obituary for something that was a large part of my life and soul.  There is not enough gratitude for me to convey to all those who were a part of this journey; the many businesses that gave so willingly; the UHS faculty and administration whose support had no limit; the core group that showed up every year to do all the dirty work of setting up and cleaning.  A special thanks goes to my original partner-in-crime, Pam DiBattista, Becky Wise, Russ Wise, my wife, Pam, who never felt like she did enough, and all my family who constantly asked what they could do.

     But, most importantly, this is my way of sharing my appreciation to each and every student (including all my children) who was part of this.  There is no way for me to remember all of you, but you all will stay with me when I think about the Holiday Party.  The feeling of accomplishment, giving to others, joy with children you had never met before, and teamwork that you have given me all these years can not be paid back.  Every year you pushed me to do it again, and I’m grateful.  We can all say that we were a part of something that no other school has done.  It truly was a UHS tradition like no other.