Ashland High School Give Kids the World 2022!

For our last night shift we made many memorable experiences. During the Rockin Spa Transformation we interacted with many more families and learned about their stories. At first, the kids were shy, but throughout the shift they opened up and became more comfortable.  At the Big Splash Bash we met a great family who quickly became very good friends with us. At Katie's Kitchen we saw a lot of more families coming in, and they got to share their experiences with us. Also at Cafe Clayton, we were able to help kids get their dinner and talk with them one on one about where they were from, their experiences at Disney, and how their trip was going so far.  On the third day we began to recognize familiar faces from previous shifts and continued our previous conversations. We also learned more about those families. The families were very appreciative of our help and it was nice to continue to see the big impact we have. Maggie C.,  Michael E., , Samantha M.,  Dean R.,  J...

After an early Morning wake up, and a beautiful sunsrise, we arrived at the GKTW village for a third day of shifts. This morning many of us were working in the cafe. The busers especially had many families make it apparent how greatful they were to have us helping out. Over at the waffle station, the kids were super excited to make waffle sundaes, and try other foods that they wouldn’t necessarily have for breakfast, like ice cream with soda! Throughout the whole shift, many of the families and staff members showed their gratitude towards us and asked about who we were. Specifically a family asked how to create their own make-A-wish club at home. Also we had a few students make special connections with the families. Whether it be taking a picture, or exchanging phone numbers, the impact of the connections is endless.  Over in the castle, there were the stars of every wish child who has visited the village since the castle was built. There are currently almost 200,000 stars hanging....

After a quick break at the pool, we headed right back to work at the village. While serving food, we had an inspiring conversation with one of the families. We connected over our love for the Red Sox and the Make-A-Wish foundation. The father mentioned how a Red Sox player, who he went to elementary school with, taught him perseverance in his childhood. He carried these lessons with him to his adulthood, especially when two of his children were diagnosed with cancer. It was nice to make a connection on a deeper level with the families we fundraise for all year long.  Some of us got to work at an exciting new party at the village called Silly Science Spectacular. During this event we got to interact one-on-one with the wish families. The kids got to experiment with conductivity and explore different aspects of science. Seeing the priceless smiles on these kids' faces made the experience unforgettable.  At the end of the night we had a fun encounter with a raccoon named Tod, who...

The second day started bright and early, we were excited to start our shift! When we arrived at the village we were given our task for the day, which was working at Clayton’s Cafe. While working, we talked to and met so many different families who all had their own unique stories and experiences. It was truly an amazing and special experience getting to know these kids and their families, and seeing the positive impact we could make in people's lives. Whether it was serving waffles or bussing tables, we enjoyed seeing the smiles on families faces and are so grateful to be able to have this opportunity.  For instance, some of our peers met a family from California who were so moved by our commitment and passion for the cause that they would send an official recognition to our school. They were surprised by our kindness and dedication, which means so much to us! We ended the shift and can't wait to start our next shift tonight! - Natalia, Mia, John, Tyler, Alex, Abby

We were so excited to jump right into our first shifts! In the castle, some club members helped some of the wish children make their stars and find their pillows and had the privilege of meeting a Make-A-Wish child from our chapter in Massachusetts.  This wish child was given a pillow with the phrase “you are my sunshine” written all over it. Little did we know that her mother says that phrase to her all the time, causing her to tear up in the moment. The experience was extremely moving and reminded us why we do what we do.  In the cafe, we helped families have an easier time getting dinner and we were busy bussing tables, and families in the cafe were so appreciative of the services our club members provided to their families throughout the day. We also spent time at the party, making a fun place for the kids to dress up and play games with their families.  It was so eye-opening to see families be able to come together and enjoy each other's company in an stress-free e...