Business donations benefit HSCS

Two Hot Springs businesses recently provided donations to Hot Springs Community School, a Heartbridge Learning Center, located at 800 Ridgeway St.

Seiz Signs presented the school a new aluminum sign, which will be installed on the front of the school’s building. Superintendent Bill Vining said the sign will provide “exposure to help draw other deserving students to Hot Springs Community School.”

Willow Beach Motel, a local motel located on Lake Hamilton, agreed to sponsor an Adventure Friday event. During Adventure Fridays, the school takes students on a variety of outdoor activities, including horseback riding, archery and rafting.

“Through these activities, we help our students master team building, face their fears, explore the region, expand their horizons, increase confidence, purse passions and interact with others,” Vining said. “And along the way, we have a whole lot of fun.”

“Hot Springs Community School can only exist with the generous help of others in our community,” Vining said. “I want to offer a special thank you to Seiz Signs and WBM, who have combined to assist us with great donations for our school.”

Vining said most of the school’s students are from lower-income families, with 71 percent receiving free or reduced lunches.

“We support each child by loving them and providing our full attention and effort to seeing them succeed, empowering each student to take responsibility for their own learning, leading to self-sufficiency and responsibility,” Vining said.

The HeartBridge curriculum was developed at HSCS and is now taught in 10 public schools. The school plans to offer the curriculum across the country for thousands of students to potentially benefit from donations made to HSCS.

“Investing in Hot Springs Community School is an investment in the future,” said Vining. “Our school is a lab for perfecting social-emotional learning for students throughout the United States.”

Donations can be given through a variety of avenues including the Go Fund Me campaign at GoFundMe.com/HSCommunitySchool and through a direct PayPal link. The school also partnered with Kroger Community Rewards and offers a discount card program.

“We need your help,” said Vining. “Giving to HSCS helps our students build the foundation they need to create a better future for themselves, their communities and the world, developing the individual intellectually, socially and emotionally.”