WHS Key Club students volunteer on Polar Express Train Ride

By Jolene Bailey

Over the course of the holiday season there were many events to help celebrate and bring smiles into communities and student members of Windham High School’s Key Club took advantage of that to brighten the holidays for those in need.

The Key Club is a volunteering group whose goal is to help support local communities and bring positive change. It’s a way for students to get involved to practice and encourage leadership abilities and build character while performing public service. Students try to reach for a certain amount of volunteer hours per quarter and WHS Key Club members found that over the holidays by donating time at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad’s Polar Express Train Ride in Portland.

The Polar Express ride runs roughly 45 minutes and is conducted from November to December each year and is strictly manned by volunteers. The train is split into nine carts and rides at what is designed to be the North Pole.

On the train ride, there are activities, such as reading the Polar Express book, dancing, and listening to Christmas music, having a golden ticket punched, and interacting with Santa and his bell elf. Each cart contains one or two volunteers dressed up as a chef elf.

“A chef elf is there to interact with kids and make their time at the North Pole magical. while also being there to help Santa and anyone else.” said WHS student and Key Club member Alyssa Cooper.

When stopped at the North Pole, outside the train windows are filled with lights. This “North Pole” dedicates the middle of the train ride where Santa comes to visit and talk with every boy and girl. Santa additionally brings the children a gift, a bell representing the one in the Polar Express book.

The bell given is from a “bell elf,” another volunteer position.

“The bell elf follows Santa throughout the train holding a red felt bag and giving each kid a bell. The volunteer dresses up in an elf costume and looks more like the role of an elf,” said Cooper.

Although a volunteer bell elf requires less interaction with the public, because before reaching the North Pole the passengers do not know of them, just handing out bells can prompt a child’s smile.

When the elf volunteers get off the train, their work is not done. Preparing for the new and upcoming rides, they help pour hot cocoa into cups for passengers while making sure everyone has a drink and cookies.

This year, some WHS Key Club volunteers served as chef elves and bell elves.

“This is my second year doing the Polar Express. I came back because of all the fun I had making new friends with people volunteering and on the train. It’s just a great way to interact with people and get into the Christmas spirit.” said Cooper.

Overall, the WHS Key Club has interacted with this program for many years and plans many more to come.

“This program is very engaging and inclusive when it comes to people,” Cooper said. “Everyone is into something.” <