This is John Hay

By Chip Genung '25

One of the things that makes Westminster a unique place is the John Hay society. As everyone knows they have been raising money throughout the year for multiple organizations and nonprofits. Often happening after Chapel, these acts of charity have been to help not only our immediate community in the Simsbury area but communities and people all over the world. It is amazing that a mostly student-run organization has been able to contribute so much to so many people.

This year John Hay has raised over five thousand nine hundred dollars. This money has gone to organizations such as Healing Meals which helps to provide food to families experiencing a health crisis. John Hay also does offertories for specific chapel talks. For example, they did an offertory for the Be a Match Foundation in honor of Chandler Green ‘23’s chapel talk about her brother. The offertories have given money to help our community within Connecticut, as well as the greater global community. This was shown through their generous donations to Direct Relief for Ukraine.
           
I got the chance to talk to some of the members of John Hay and asked about their experiences with it. I asked Maggie McCarthy '23 and Emma Mason '23 about the impact they hope John Hay and the offertories have. A common theme I heard was that John Hay helps to emphasize some of the values of Westminster including “involvement and supporting our community.” Maggie McCarthy included that “knowing that we made a difference helps the strength that our community can have.” In addition, they both gave very insightful comments on the chapel and its purpose in our community. Emma remarked that “Chapel is a really good way to know people’s story”. Additionally, Maggie commented that chapel is a time to “listen, not talk”. This, I thought, was a very accurate and deep way of putting it as it acknowledges that Chapel is important in our community and everyone will one day get their turn to speak; and until then, we wait to hear what others have to say.
           
I also got an amazing opportunity to speak to Priscilla Ameyaw '22 about her experiences with John Hay. Priscilla said that the reason she joined and is so passionate about John Hay is for one simple purpose: to help—to help her community on the Hill and to help the community outside of Westminster. Priscilla acknowledged the effects that these acts of charity have and that they can be so helpful for so many people.
           
Through talking to Maggie, Emma, and Priscilla about John Hay and the ways they have and hope to help our community, I learned many things, but the one thing I would say that became most clear is that John Hay is not just any other club, but instead, they are here to, as Priscilla said, “Do as much as they can to help other people.”