Page 10 - The Wayne Dispatch

Community helps students and teachers go back to school

By Carolyn Marnon Goudy Park. She also set up an Ama-
Although it seems like summer zon Wishlist from which she received
just started, it’s already August and donations. The deadline for dona-
time to think about getting the kids tions was August 3.
ready to go back to school. For stu- Brooke looked at class supply
dents and teachers, this can be a lists and the number of teachers on
costly event. So many school sup- each school’s website to determine
plies and backpacks to buy, getting which supplies to collect and how
the kids registered and making sure many.
all those plans you had for summer The most donated item was glue
activities are still carried out. sticks. “Having a surplus of items is
Two Wayne residents took it upon okay, as I will just add extra to the
themselves to start school supply care packages,” said Brooke. “One
drives but with very different focuses. item that people seem to not be do-
Here are their stories: nating as much as we hoped for
would probably be dry erase mark-
Krissy’s Pantry is about ers. Many classes have students
more than dogs and cats using dry erase boards for activities
Jackie Olweean wanted to help and those markers are actually
costly but essential for the student to
local families by hosting a Back to have.”
School Backpack Drive targeted to The biggest challenge with this
elementary-aged students. Her goal Wayne Memorial High School junior Brooke Johnson shares about “Community Circle’ event was marketing and getting the
is to receive and fill 50 backpacks at Concerts in Goudy Park. Photo by Ryan Wright word out about what she was trying
for struggling families. “Most of us to do. With plans to continue this
know how hard it can be to try to fit The filled backpacks will be given smallest hands to do great things” supply drive next year, Brooke says
school supplies into an already ex- away during a raffle that takes place she started a Facebook page called “I will definitely be starting the cam-
tremely tight budget!” wrote Jackie on Sunday, August 25, at 1:00 p.m. “Community Circle” to assist her in paign sooner next year. That way it
on the Facebook page she runs at ICON Computers. The event will a project of collecting school sup- will give me more time to market it.
called “Krissy’s Pantry.” Krissy’s be set up in the parking lot, so atten- plies for the 2019-2020 school year It is my hope that this event will grow
Pantry collects pet food and pet sup- dees are asked to not park in the that would be delivered to 179 upper each year and reach more and more
plies which Jackie then delivers to parking lot. and lower elementary school teach- classrooms throughout the district. I
local residents (mostly elderly and If you are so moved, Jackie ers this month. would like to add the special educa-
disabled) who need some help taking would appreciate any donations to “I know that many students, espe- tion classrooms for next year, and
care of their beloved pets. Krissy’s Pantry you may have. “We’re cially in the Wayne-Westland Commu- eventually be able to be big enough
The cut-off date for donations to still here,” says Jackie. “Outreach nity School District, struggle to to reach junior high and high
this drive is August 16. Donations has become increasingly difficult due acquire the supplies necessary to be schools.”
can be dropped off at ICON Comput- to the lack of donations coming in. successful in their studies. I also
ers, 35858 W. Michigan Ave, or Sadly, the hardest thing for me to do know that teachers struggle with “Every person who has reached
Jackie can pick them up at your con- is to have to tell people I can’t help. being able to provide these supplies out has helped this campaign grow
venience. If anyone would like to donate, the to their students because they have and for that, I am extremely grate-
The following is a generic list of following is a list of what we are in minimal funding and resources. To ful,” Brooke said.
supplies needed: need of: canned and dry dog food, try to lessen this issue, I have de-
Glue sticks dog treats and chew bones, puppy cided to make care packages for “I have learned that we live in an
#2 pencils pads, dog toys, canned and dry cat each classroom (upper and lower el- amazing community with caring
Wide ruled notebooks food and kitty litter.” This is an ongo- ementary) in Wayne-Westland. These community members that would
Wide ruled loose leaf paper ing collection throughout the year. care packages will include extra love to help out with anything that
Large pink erasers Donations can be dropped off for school supplies for teachers to give we need,” said this student who as-
Folders with fasteners Krissy’s Pantry at ICON Computers to students as they see necessary. Al- pires to be a 5th-grade teacher (‘be-
(solid colors) anytime they are open. though it is just something small, I cause my 5th-grade teacher was the
Dry erase markers Community can am hoping that this donation will re- best teacher; she made me enjoy
Scissors lieve some of the burdens on low so- school.’) It also has helped me notice
Multiplication/division start with a kid cioeconomic status students, as well that even though I was fortunate to
flash cards Brooke Johnson will be a junior as our educators,” wrote Brooke on have parents who were able to pro-
Headphones/earbuds at Wayne Memorial High School next the gofundme page she also created. vide me and my siblings’ school sup-
24 count boxes of crayons month. After attending the Civitan Brooke was able to enlist busi- plies every year, I know there are
Index cards Youth Leadership and Diversity Con- nesses to help her by being drop-off some parents or guardians that
Hand held pencil sharpeners ference in Angola, Indiana last locations for the collection. These in- might not be able to do that, and I
Highlighters month where she learned about on- cluded Karma Coffee and Kitchen, am happy to help.”
Markers going issues in education, Brooke Helium Studio, O’Dell Chiropractic, As she posted on the Community
Gallon/sandwich size bags came home to become the change Toarmina’s Pizza and Tim Hortons. Circle facebook page “Be the change
Rulers/protractors she wanted to see. With the mission She also collected supplies during you wish to see in the world.”
BACKPACKS! of “helping shape the community’s the Wednesday night concerts in -Mahatma Gandhi
10 · August 2019 · The Wayne Dispatch