Members of the Ironton High School Key Club hope lives will be easier for less fortunate members of the community -- and needy children will be happier.

On Saturday, club members will be painting faces at Ironton's home football game. This will continue through the rest of the football season to raise money for the club's annual "Clothe-A-Kid" project. For the project, key club members take students from Ironton's elementary schools out for dinner and a shopping trip.

"We want people to know that the money (raised by the face painting) is not for us," president Katie Scherer said. "This money will go to help others in our community."

The club members painted faces at the Ironton/ Gallipolis game, but they only raised $20, vice president Meghan O'Brien said.

"It's $20 that we didn't have before, but we're hoping to raise more," she said.

Also, the club is trying a new project this year -- a clothing drive. Until Thanksgiving, people may drop off clothing donations at the high school. During that holiday, the members will also collect canned food donations.

At Christmastime, needy children at the Ironton elementary schools will get to visit Santa once again.

Kingsbury, Whitwell and West Ironton elementaries will send the Key Club a list of needy children from their schools, O'Brien said. The list also includes what clothing and shoe sizes the children wear, along with what the children would like for Christmas.

Then, IHS students, teachers and anyone interested will get a child's name and have to spend a minimum of $25 on a gift. Sometimes, more than one person will share the cost of one gift if $25 is too much to pay, Scherer said.

At a party at the high school, the children will be able to tell Santa what they want for Christmas, and Santa will give them their gifts. The children's families are also invited.

"They put on their outfits as soon as they open them," O'Brien said.

"The kids start playing with their toys right there," Scherer said. "You can also tell that their parents are appreciative."

Even though the gifts are paid out-of-pocket, donations for the Christmas project would also help, Scherer said.