By Breana Aquino – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Key Club recently held its annual three-week poinsettia sale.

With sponsorship from the Milford Kiwanis Club, this major fundraiser was for both clubs to help with yearly scholarships for Key Club seniors. It allows the Key Club to give back to a couple of their favorite organizations, such as Camp Sunshine and the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Unit.

“Key Clubbers sell these plants because they know the end result will be raising funds for worthwhile causes,” Key Club Advisor Mr. Boynton said. “It gives them a chance to make people’s holiday season much brighter and cheery.”

This fundraiser has been hosted by the Law Key Club for 25 years.

“It’s always been very successful thanks to the hard work from the Key Clubbers and the support of all our faculty and staff,” Boynton said.

There were two delivery dates this year, being December 5th and the 12th. After the Kiwanis drop the poinsettias off, Key Clubbers would pick them up from the main lobby and make arrangements to deliver those plants to their customers.

Senior Co-President Onuralp Unal expresses that poinsettias are a classic holiday plant.

“They’re popular because they bring a festive look to homes and make great seasonal gifts,” Unal said. “They’re affordable, easy to care of, and last a surprisingly long time.”

The goal was to raise money to then give back to the Milford Kiwanis organization. It is a service club that does volunteer work around Milford and raises money for charitable causes.

“People should buy poinsettias from Key Club because all the money goes towards a good cause, and the poinsettias themselves are great because they are very full and colorful,” Senior Co-President Kayla Markowitz said. 

This year’s top seller was Junior Secretary Ava Grippo, with a total number of 56 poinsettias sold.

“My goal for how many poinsettias I wanted to sell started at 30, but as I kept asking and people kept saying yes, my goal gradually went up, first to 40, and then to 50!” Grippo said. “The final goal was 50, and I am so surprised that I was able to pass that.”

Grippo was able to sell many with the help of her dad and by asking everybody she knows. She asked teachers, relatives, as well as her dad’s friends.

“The tactic is to very nicely ask everyone you know.” Grippo said. “For every few who say no, there will always be someone who says yes.”

Sophomore member Anwita Puttam believes that selling poinsettias are important because it helps with raising money for the club in order for them to be able to do different events.

“It’s just a great festive thing for people to buy for themselves, but it also makes a great gift,” Puttam said.