Rik Bag, Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council (CMYC) president and senior, addresses the council members during a meeting. Bag said, “I think our progression as a council, not just from month to month but also year by year, like term by term—I think we’re doing really well.”

The annual National Junior Honors Society (NJHS) toy drive will take place at Clay Middle School this year, according to Kelli Prader, Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council (CMYC) sponsor. Prader said the council’s tentative date for the toy drive is Dec. 7, and unlike last year, CMYC hopes to involve all three of the district’s middle schools in the project.

Rik Bag, CMYC president and senior, said the toys will go to the Julian Center, an organization that supports survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and similar life crises.

“We just kind of hang out with (the middle schoolers) for a couple hours, wrap up toys,” Bag said. “It’s kind of helpful for everyone. Eighth graders get something to boost their leadership skills. It’s a fun time, and Julian Center gets a lot of toys, which is always good for them. They get (the toys) wrapped and everything. CMYC gets more exposure, and we get to spend more time with eighth graders.”

In addition to organizing the toy drive, Bag said, the council members will also be volunteering at the city’s upcoming Christkindlmarkt. The German market plans to open Nov. 17.

Prader said CMYC’s involvement in the Christkindlmarkt will be similar to its involvement in the Carmel Farmers’ Market’s bike parking initiative this summer.

“The city gave (the members) permission to volunteer for those, so they’re in other organizers’ hands,” Prader said.

According to Bag, CMYC is also planning to organize another service project this month. He said it is important for the council to increase community engagement through these projects and remain involved in civic life.

Bag said the council’s next meeting is on this Thursday.

“I think we’re at as good if not better of a place than both of the past years at this point in the council,” Bag said, “both from a community outreach standpoint as well as an intra-council kind of chemistry.”