Monday and Tuesday night, choir conducted their annual carol-o-grams fundraiser. Every year, members of the choir sell singing telegrams to people in the community. Student carolers are paired into groups where they then proceed to drive to different houses within the district boundaries to sing carols including “The First Noel,” ”Joy to the World,” “Jingle Bells,“ ”Silent Night,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
The recipients of the grams sometimes treat the carolers with cookies, candy canes or ciders. Some recipients even get a bit teared up. When they receive the singing telegram, it makes the carolers feel good.
“My favorite memory from this year is probably when we sang to a woman, and she started crying,” junior Kylie Cass said. “She got really emotional from the caroling and loved it.”
For recipient Penelope Porsch, the carol-o-grams made her “excited” to see the kids perform as she once did as a caroler with her theatre class in high school. For Porsch, the singing telegram was “one of the nicest things that has happened” to her in a long time.
And I just started to cry. It was so beautiful, and it made me feel so happy. I just wasn’t expecting to be so overwhelmed with joy.
— Penelope Porsch
“Almost as soon as they started singing, my heart felt completely overwhelmed, and it was just so beautiful and I could feel the Holy Spirit in their voices,” Porsch said. “And I just started to cry. It was so beautiful, and it made me feel so happy. I just wasn’t expecting to be so overwhelmed with joy.”
Overall, according to sophomore Kaleb Nunn, carol-o-grams is a heart warming experience for both the carolers and the recipient, and it helps to make people feel the Christmas spirit. Carolers have said their favorite part is being able to bring joy to the community.
“It warms my heart,” Nunn said. “[It] makes me feel like I’m in the season.”
Each group went to about eight houses to carol. The students generally get to go with their friends, or get to meet new fellow choir members so they tend to regard it as a positive experience.
“Carol-o-grams is a really fun experience that brings us together as a choir,” junior Madison Dubois said. “I love being able to go around singing and lifting people up.”
