College of Charleston sophomore Emily Hoisington just wanted to help the children in one Charleston County classroom. Now, she’s the founder of a 501c3 non-profit who wrangles hundreds of volunteers each year to provide gifts for nearly a thousand students in three elementary schools. Oh, yeah, and she’s also an S.C. Teaching Fellow earning her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
[Related: Learn about S.C. Teaching Fellows.]
On December 12 and 13, 2013, Hoisington and 80-100 volunteers will deliver 1,500 wrapped presents to students in Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts School, Edmund A. Burns Elementary School and Charleston Progressive Academy. They’ll also cook a hot lunch and spend time with the children.
“It broke my heart hearing my sister, who was also a S.C. teaching fellow, talk about how her students had never really opened a Christmas present,” Hoisington explains. “When I was a senior in high school, we provided gifts for her class. Then when I got to the College of Charleston, I wanted to do it again, but I wasn’t really sure how to start. Everyone here helped me.”
In December 2012, when Hoisington was just finishing her first semester at the College, she and her classmates delivered 900 gifts – enough for every student in two schools. That Christmas, she began the nine-month process to be a 501c3 organization, founding Charleston Hope.
[Related: Read the Post and Courier’s story.]
“It was a long, hard process, especially being a student,” Hoisington says. “We had to raise nearly $1,000 just to apply, but it was worth it because we want to go beyond just providing Christmas gifts to children. We host a spring outreach event and we want to offer activities year-round.”
[Related: Charleston Hope’s website.]
On December 2, more than 200 College of Charleston students and community members wrapped over 700 gifts in less than an hour. Another 25 groups adopted entire classrooms and provided their wrapped gifts for delivery.
“It is about more than just gifts,” Hoisington explains. “It is about bringing the community together. We want to see our generation come up as leaders that are willing to make a difference and step up when needed.”
What’s next for Hoisington? She wants to follow in her sister’s footsteps and teach in a Title 1 school. But, she’s also hoping that her love for Charleston Hope will help it grow into a career.
Hoisington can be reached at hoisingtonei@g.cofc.edu.
