In LaRue County, every single student matters- and now they all have hoodies to prove it

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones you didn't see coming.

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Every student at LaRue County High School walked away with a brand new Hawks hoodie going into holiday break, thanks to a group of local businesses and community members who decided the holidays were a perfect time to show these kids they matter.

The surprise unfolded during the school day, with students finding out they'd each be getting their own hoodie- no strings attached, nobody left out. And while the students were surprised, so were the teachers, who received custom art pieces made by students as a thank-you for what they do.

"Thanks to the generosity of our community, every student in our building received a LaRue County Hawks hoodie," said Whitney Choate, the high school's principal. "It's a reminder of how deeply this community cares about our kids. Test scores, activities, and athletics are important- but our students knowing they belong and are valued for who they are, that's our highest priority."

Behind the scenes, local business owners Jimmy Shaw and Bobby Dobson helped pull the whole thing together, working alongside other donors to make sure no student was overlooked.

"We're always glad to give back to our community," Shaw said. "When we were approached with the idea of making sure every student at LaRue County High School had a great Christmas, it was an easy yes."

Dobson kept it simple: "Our goal was simple- to make sure every student felt included and had a wonderful Christmas here at LaRue County High School."

The list of donors reads like a roll call of LaRue County's backbone: Will Harris Homes, Heartland Mini Golf, Nall's Specialized Hauling, Parkway Baptist Church, Brooks Fencing, Lewis Auction Company, Zion Solutions Group, and one anonymous donor who chose to help without fanfare. Riverbrook Realty and South Fork Baptist Church provided refreshments for the event.

School leaders say this wasn't just about hoodies or holiday cheer- it's about something bigger. In LaRue County Schools, they call it the Hawk Family, and it's built on the idea that when you take care of each other, nobody has to go it alone.

On a day when students walked the halls wearing their new gear, that message came through loud and clear: in LaRue County, being part of the Hawk Family means you're seen, you're valued, and you belong.

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