Girls on the Run Avon team makes thank you bags for teachers, staff

Participants of the Girls on the Run program have once again proven that amazing things can happen when you work together. This fall, teams of young girls all across Northeast Ohio dreamed up ways that they could help their community, then worked together to make a difference.

“This season was unique in the fact that some of our teams were meeting virtually in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Program Director, Dani Elliott. The program had been adapted to accommodate both virtual and inperson programming with increased safety measures for those still looking for an in-person experience. “It’s hard to know exactly how things will translate to the virtual space when it comes to teamwork activities such as this, but our teams were able to think outside the box and find ways to work together in

In Lorain County, the Avon in-person team elected to create thank you bags for all of the teachers and staff at their school. They included thank you notes, candy, masks, hand sanitizer, granola bars, hot chocolate, and tea. “All of our girls were so happy to do something kind for the staff, especially this year,” says volunteer coach Jennifer Kappa. “The teachers and staff have gone above and beyond to help keep their school open, and they wanted to say thank you.”

Girls on the Run is an 8-week social-emotional development program which weaves physical activity into every lesson to instill a greater understanding of all areas of well-being for girls in third through eighth grade. GOTRNEO serves 6 counties across Northeast Ohio and is looking to make programming more accessible to girls than ever before.

If you’re looking for a program that has been adapted for both social distancing and a virtual setting, Girls on the Run NEO is now accepting Site Applications for the Spring 2021 season. The deadline for applications is Feb. 5.

SUBMITTED Girls on the Run Avon team with their thank you bags.