A $500 grant from the Virginia FCCLA Leadership Foundation will enable Stuarts Draft Middle School students to host a holiday party on December 4 for local children facing challenges.
Paige Edwards, a Family & Consumer Sciences teacher at Stuarts Draft Middle, is the school’s chapter advisor for Family Career and Community Leaders of America.
“Family, in many ways, has become a lost art in America. And it feels really good to help students understand the meaning of family,” she said.
SDMS’s FCCLA chapter of 42 students meets once a month during school hours, and after school when working on projects.
“We’re really focused on community service this year. To me, that’s the most worthwhile endeavor,” Edwards said.
In 2024, FCCLA has also been focused on the Love Forward Foundation in Staunton, which serves Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro children of incarcerated parents.
“That is such a worthwhile mission. That is such an important mission,” Edwards said of Love Forward, which was founded by Keisha Nicholson.
On December 4, FCCLA will host a holiday party for children at Love Forward.
“We will continue to work at Love Forward throughout the rest of the school year,” Edwards said.
In April 2025, three members of the club will attend a state conference and compete with other FCCLA members. Each student will speak publicly about their chapter’s year in review.
Edwards said she met Nicholson and reached out to her about the chapter partnering to help. She encourages community members to reach out to Love Forward if they know of a local child the organization may serve.
FCCLA will participate in the Staunton Christmas Parade on a float with Love Forward and pass out fliers about the nonprofit’s mission.
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Rebecca Barnabi
