Photo by Stephanie Tipple.

Stephanie Tipple
Staff Reporter

Every holiday season, people become more focused on kind and charitable acts for others. But what about clubs like Circle K, that give back to those in need on a year-round basis?

The Circle K Club motto is “Live to Serve, Love to Serve,” and this motto speaks volumes about the work that they’re doing on the Woodbridge campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Since their beginnings on the Woodbridge campus more than three years ago, they have been hosting successful fundraisers to benefit various non-profit groups in the area.

This past month, the Circle K Club has kicked into overdrive, hosting a bake sale and Project Hug-A-Bear.

The bake sale was a big hit, with many students purchasing delicious baked goods on campus that Circle K Club members made for the event. The bake sale was considered a successful event, with the proceeds going to aid Woodbridge-area flood victims and to fund Circle K’s next service project; a “Senior Prom” for seniors citizens in the community.

One of their biggest projects to date is the Project Hug-A-Bear. This project gave NOVA students the opportunity to take an ordinary teddy bear and dress it up in an exciting costume of their choosing. These bears, dressed in Santa costumes, safari costumes and even a Jack Sparrow costume, are to be given to children in the National Children’s Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to provide some comfort during the holiday season. Each costume, some hand-made, shows a clear eye for detail and an interesting use of theme that the children will truly enjoy. Overall, there were 22 bears decked out in their finest duds, the best being voted on by the students who purchased baked goods and donated to the bake sale. The winning bear decorators could win several great prizes, including gift cards and customized artwork created for them by a Circle K member.

The Circle K Club at the Woodbridge campus shows no signs of slowing down, and club president Rachel Villarroel said that they’re hoping to get more dedicated members to welcome to the group in the spring semester. The Circle K Club keeps NOVA students up to date via their Facebook page and host weekly meetings every Monday from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Room 119 in Seefeldt Building.

By: Stephanie Tipple

Stay updated by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.