Community giving starts at school
When people want to give back, many look to support national charities and other causes that they hold near and dear. Certainly these are worthwhile causes. However, giving back on a local level is a great way to help the people you see every day.
Schools are the heart of many communities. School buildings may serve as gathering spaces for sports practices or meetings for various organizations. Even though schools are likely to receive municipal funding for certain operations, budgets are frequently being cut and schools may need all the help they can get. This year the boundaries of the budget may be pushed even further as schools revamp their spaces and implement certain safety protocols to confront the pandemic. Now more than ever schools may need help. Here’s how to do just that.
• Volunteer your time. Find out ways you can volunteer time at school. This may be helping teachers make copies of assignments, supervising children at recess or lunch hours, serving as a chaperone at school functions, or being a coach or mentor for afterschool activities.
• Attend and participate in fundraisers. Fundraisers are essential to help offset costs for many special events and services for students. Whenever possible, give wisely through fundraisers.
• Provide supplies for classrooms. Teachers often have to supplement their classrooms with supplies bought out of pocket. Reach out to teachers to see which items they need and do your best to supply them.
• Join the PTA or a similar schoolsanctioned organization. Many groups perform functions that facilitate strong connections between home and school. Joining and working with such organizations can improve the school experience for everyone.
• Buy “Box Tops”-affiliated products. The Box Tops for Education program donates $0.10 per box top label collected and submitted by schools back to that school. More than 80,000 elementary schools have earned money through the program to buy equipment and supplies. Box Tops can be found on many different food packages.
• Treat the teacher. In addition to supporting Teacher Appreciation Days and other school events, send in an uplifting note, snack or another way of showing you appreciate his or her efforts.
