The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Communities lend a hand
Kids in need receive donations of supplies, clothes and food for school year
One thing is certain, Lorain Countians’ hearts swell when it comes to helping childern.
Erin Gadd, director of communications and community engagement for Lorain City Schools, said a creative idea resulted in packing hundreds of school uniforms in her office.
A Titan Uniform Swap happens from 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 12, at a gymnasium at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School, 2700 Washington Ave. in Lorain.
Families have been turning in gently used uniform pants and tops at the administration building or at Johnnie Wilson Middle School all summer, Gadd said, and are given vouchers.
On Saturday, the families bring their vouchers back in to receive the same number of items they turned in, she said.
So, if a boy hit a growth spurt and grew three sizes over the summer, the family is covered.
“It’s been a huge effort and our Parents Advisory Council has done a dynamite job,” Gadd said.
“This is one of my wife’s wacky ideas,” said Johnnie Wilson Middle School Principal Bryan Hilko.
Hilko said his wife, Michelle Hilko, has been working with Gadd.
“My office has been taken over by the clothes,” he said. “It’s a lot more than we got the first time around. It’s been a great response.”
Also, when families enroll students at Lorain Schools, Pat Akosi
coordinates clothing and other help for those in great need, Gadd said.
And many organizations are involved in gathering school supplies and bookbags, she said.
For example, Watteredge, a manufacturer in Avon Lake, will distribute 200 backpacks at 1 p.m., Aug. 22, at Hawthorne Elementary School, 610 W. 20th St. in Lorain, Gadd said.
“That is one of many events going on throughout the district this month,” she said.
Hilko added a fun backto-school event from 1-3 p.m. Aug. 10 at Johnnie Wilson Middle and Washington Elementary schools includes food, music, games and drawstring bags as give-aways.
Elyria Schools preparation
Amy Higgins, director of communications at Elyria City Schools, said the district is encouraging parents to fill out free and reduced price lunch applications to ease a school year burden.
“It’s easier this year because it is now online,” Higgins said. “Families can log into PowerSchool and update all of their school paperwork from the privacy of their home.
“The online enrollment process started this year. It puts everything in one place. It’s yet to be seen if that improves participation in that lunch program.”
Sodexo food service provides free breakfast to all children in the district, she said.
“My own child hates to eat early breakfast,” Higgins said. “But obviously, I know she needs to eat food. Her class does breakfast in the classroom.
“That encourages kids to eat because their friends are eating and the teacher eats with them, too. It’s more of a family table time setting.
“Related to food, we also do summer meals all summer at Elyria High School. Breakfast and lunch are free for everyone through age 18 until Aug. 18.”
Elyria Schools starts Sept. 5.
“We also collect school supplies from many sources: churches, financial institutions, civic organizations, companies,” Higgins said. “We collect them here at the main office, then we will get the supplies out to schools in cases of need.”
Fire departments, the American Legion and local businesses provide winter coats that are distributed the same day the district learns of a need, she said.
Those donations help greatly with emergency situations, Higgins said.
Last year, the district changed the bus radius from two miles to 1.25 miles for students up to eighth grade to minimize hardships on families, she said.
“There’s no high school busing, but we did work out a shuttle arrangement with First Student, the company that provides our bus transportation, so a high school student can purchase a shuttle pass for $35 for the entire year and ride to school Monday through Friday,” Higgins said. “There are five locations throughout town. It doesn’t provide a ride home, but most students are active in after-school activities and clubs.
“What we were hearing from the community was they needed a ride to school.”
New this year is preschool busing, she said.
“It’s free door-to-door service,” Higgins said. “We think that is a great service that will remove a transportation barrier for a lot of our families with little ones.
“We also removed our school fees for preschool through eighth grade, so the only ones who pay are at the high school level. And we don’t have pay-to-play here, either.”
Clothing provided
Anthony Dimacchia, director of operations of Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County, said a huge initiative of about $320,000 provides $600 worth of school clothes neatly packaged in a bag for 530 students.
Youngsters in the program need never sag their pants, because in addition to eight pairs of pants, eight shirts, two long sleeve shirts, a fleece, three pairs of socks, two pairs of shoes and a winter coat, each child receives a belt.
The distribution is later this month depending on whether delivery arrives on time, Dimacchia said.
“This is greatly needed,” he said. “Our kids really need it bad. We’re happy to give it to families who need it most.”
Children were selected from those who attended summer camp at Boys and Girls Clubs, Horizon, or Common Ground, Dimacchia said.
“It is a huge undertaking,” he said. “We’re happy to partner with Lorain County Job and Family Services for this. Without the help of Job and Family Services, Lorain County Commissioners and Lorain County Administrator Jim Cordes, this wouldn’t be possible.”
Dimacchia also serves as president of the Lorain City School Board, which voted last year to provide free food for all students.
A student must choose a complete meal to receive it for free, however, because the food is paid for with a grant that requires a student receive a balanced meal.
Just selecting a sandwich and a drink, for example, is not free.