Members of Unaka High School’s Key Club recently received a grant to help the students launch a community outreach project.

This award marks the second year in a row that the UHS Key Club has received a Youth Opportunities Fund grant from Key Club International and the Kiwanis International Children’s Fund.

“A lot of people apply for it and it’s very hard to get it two years in a row,” said Kayla Clawson, the Key Club advisor at Unaka High. “We are very fortunate to be able to get this for a second year.”

The YOF grants are competitive, which means each applicant must compete against other proposals to obtain funding. More than 140 Clubs applied for YOF grants, and not everyone receives funding.

Last year, the organization used their YOF grant to host the Senior Citizens Prom at the Elizabethton Senior Center. The Club received an $800 grant for that project.

This year, the Club received a $1,500 grant to launch their new community outreach project, which they are calling “Ranger Pack.”

“It’s going to be a food backpack program,” Clawson explained.

Seeing the issues with hunger in their community, the Club decided they wanted to do something to help meet those needs.

“When my advisor first pitched the idea to me I was all for it,” said UHS Key Club President Jaida Walters. “Over the past two years, I have been a part of an organization that provides help for the homeless and the needy. We do something similar that is called ‘necessity bags,’ which provides necessities for men and women in drawstring bags.”

“By knowing the benefits of a project similar, I am very excited to be able to reach out and give the same benefits to my local community,” Walters continued. “A little bit can make a huge difference, and I know that with the items provided and the love shown, this project will be extremely beneficial.”

Clawson said the Club was just notified they had received the grant and will have to wait for the funds to arrive before they can begin buying supplies for the Ranger Pack program. She said the Club hopes to get the program underway before the end of the school year.

While the Ranger Pack is being launched with grant funds, Clawson said she hopes to be able to work with the community to make it a permanent outreach program.

If there are any individuals or businesses that would like to donate non-perishable food items for the food backpacks or businesses that would like to set up collection boxes, they are asked to contact Kayla Clawson at Unaka High School by calling 423-474-4100 or by email at kaylaclawson@carterk12.net.