Chelmsford Club Fosters Leadership, Selflessness Amid Pandemic

CHELMSFORD, MA – While the pandemic has curtailed most activities for schools across the country, there's a club at Chelmsford High School that's been busier than ever, and growing.

Dozens of students in the club have worked together to problem-solve to help others so far this school year. They found a way to create a safe trick-or-treating experience for the community, helped stock the shelves of a local non-profit, and helped deliver hundreds of poinsettias.

Matt Bartos, an English teacher at Chelmsford High School, and Tammy Leary, a counselor at the Hawthorne House, are the long-time advisers to Leadership In Motion Everywhere club or LIME, a student-run club that immerses its members in vital causes and in situations of need – often dire – while teaching leadership skills, problem-solving and collaboration.

“The group has its signature events, but at the same time it responds to any call,” Bartos said. “It’s just part of their DNA. The kids look for opportunities to do more good.”

Lately, such opportunities are not hard to come by.

Recently the Chelmsford Booster Club, which raises funds for Chelmsford athletics, had sold nearly 500 poinsettias and called upon the club to help distribute them. The club stepped up, working in shifts.

"Not only did these amazing students from LIME support the inventory preparation, they assisted families with secure safe curbside pick-up," Chelmsford Booster Club President Jamie Campo said.

But the club didn't stop there. The students planned ahead and used the poinsettia pickup to collect essential goods for The Wish Project — asking for everything from clothing and blankets, wipes and sanitizer to gift cards, diapers and toothbrushes.

At the end of the poinsettia pick up, students filled a Honda Odyssey with items to donate to the project.

Wish Project Manager Lori Yutzy said she helps more than 100 people each week and the collected donations would help at least a weeks's worth of clientele.

"With Covid-19 unemployment at an all-time high, calls come in daily with needs for toiletries, coats and clothing," she said. "This donation was great and much needed."

And then there was the drive through trick-or-treat the club put together in October. The group and 15 other clubs set up tables, dressed in costume and distributed candy to anyone who showed up at the high school.

"It turned out to be ridiculously successful," said Bartos, who estimated the effort drew well over 500 cars. "It was two and a half hours of wall-to-wall traffic. Fifteen minutes into the event, I was on the phone with the Chelmsford Police Department asking for a detail."

These clubs had to run out to buy more candy, according to Leary.

And the problems solving and critical thinking and leadership on display for all of the events so far this year couldn't have made the two club advisers more proud.

“They have this quiet leadership about them," said Leary. "We stand and support them, but they’re doing all the work, which is the purpose of LIME. You can see them gaining more confidence.”

The club has in the past had about two dozen members. On a recent video conference, however, Leary counted more than 40 students. She attributes the increase to the current climate: Students are looking to get involved and to help those in need, she said.