Key Club has kicked off the new school year with a new president, new sponsor an a fresh slate of proposed community service projects.

“As a club we are going to collect items for local food pantries and fund-raise for UNICEF through the trick-or-treat for pennies,” said President Ilana Krause, a junior. “I believe we are kick-starting a scholarship fund in honor of Coach [Jason] Whitworth [who is suffering from Lou Gerhig’s disease]. Also, we plan on holding a drive for toys during which we will wrap and give to the needy children within Brevard.”

New sponsor Mary Mason said club members aren’t wasting any time getting to work.

“Key Club’s emphasis is on service,” the English teacher said. “For example,  at the next meeting members are bringing in jars of peanut butter and jelly to donate to a food bank. We have some other terrific ideas in the works.”

Krause said she plans to make Key Club more focused than it was last year.

“Last year, I feel, was a bit unorganized, so this year I plan on increasing membership, getting people educated about what Key Club really is,” she said. “I feel like it would be great to get some new service projects started that will become West Shore Key Club traditions.”

After some concern during the summer about who replace club sponsor Sabrina Law, who took a leave of absence to stay home with her newborn, Mason agreed to take the position despite already being in charge of another school club.

“All the teachers and staff do double or triple duty at West Shore, because we are a small school,” Mason said. “This is how I choose to serve our school community, and I have outstanding leaders and members in both Key Club and National Beta Society. When West Shore students work as a team, the combined ‘Paw Power’ is awesome.”