Worthington high school students are lending a helping hand to needy families for the holidays and conducting a "compassion campaign" for 55 children.

Thomas Worthington students cut out almost 2,000 paper hands for the Helping Hands fundraiser, during which students and staff members paid $1 to write their names on a hand.

The hands were taped on the walls of the main hallway at the school.

"It is truly heartwarming to see all the hands on the walls knowing that the money will go to our needy Thomas Worthington High School families," said Kim Hanlin, director of student activities. "It is our school family helping our own students' families."

Hanlin said the students raised $1,500, which will pay for Target and Kroger gift cards for 30 needy Thomas Worthington families.

The school also conducted a clothing collection.

"More than 50 student council members put fliers on doors around the community, asking people to put bags of clothing and blankets on their porches for later pickup," Hanlin said.

Hanlin said students collected the bags of clothing and brought them to St. Michael Catholic Church.

"We completely filled a large van and took dozens of bags and boxes into a room at the church," she said.

Students and staff "were all very generous in giving money and clothing," Hanlin said.

"The Helping Hands project is important for our students to see that we have families in need, even in Worthington," she said. "The students who receive the gift cards will also see that the students and staff at Thomas Worthington care about them."

The Student Council Helping Hands Committee included students Kayleigh Edgecombe, Kathleen Reid, Rachel Chizever, Kenzi Hannum, Emily Nordquist, Sophia Tikson and Michael Frankland.

Hanlin said she wanted to thank the community for donating clothing items and to let people know the Helping Hands fundraiser will be an annual event, with students picking up clothing items on the second Saturday of December each year.

"Mark your calendars," she said. "We'll be back next year."

Worthington Kilbourne High School's Adopt-a-Child Holiday Compassion Campaign has a long history at the high school.

Ralph King, director of student activities, said the program has raised $119,561 from 1992-2008, purchasing holiday gifts for 1,014 children.

"Last year, we collected our highest total ever -- $10,134.95 -- but our collection average over the years is around $7,000," he said. "This year, we have adopted 55 children and hope again to raise $7,000. We began on Dec. 3 and have $5,152 so far."

King said district nurses first refer families in need to apply for assistance at St. Michael Church.

"Our high school then receives the names of children in need and these children are assigned to classes taught during Period 3," he said.

King said student council members are assigned to each third-period class and provide students with the first name and age of each "adopted" child, along with a wish list provided by the mothers of the children.

On the last day of the collection phase, which this year is today, Dec. 16, the collected money is balanced across the classrooms, so there is $100 to $125 available per child to buy gifts.

King said the designated shoppers will go out today to stores along the Sawmill Road corridor, primarily Meijer and Target, to pick out gifts for each child.

Volunteers from the Dublin-Worthington Rotary Club will deliver the gifts to the children gifts Saturday, Dec. 19,

"One of the guiding philosophies of the student council is, 'To whom much is given, much is expected,' " King said. "This organization raises and distributes $12,000 to $15,000 each year. The primary goal of these community service projects for the participating students is to create in those students a commitment to give something back to whatever community they are a part of as they move into adulthood.

"Students also become part of something larger than themselves and get experience in handling money and making purchasing decisions within a budget," he said.