1,700 items collected as part of school’s MLK project
By Lauren Parker- Gill, Staff Writer, The Times
King’s Highway Elementary students gathered at an assembly Wednesday to present local organizations with items they collected for the 100th Day Challenge, a service project in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and in celebration of the 100th day of school.
WEST CALN – Students at King’s Highway Elementary School collected over 1,700 items to donate to local nonprofit organizations, in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the 100th day of school celebration.
Kindergarten teachers Michele Ollis and Traci Tury wanted to plan something different this year for the 100th day of school. After brain storming together, they reached out to their principal, Stevan Lefever with the idea to challenge the entire school with a service project that also honored Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and collect 100 items per grade level to donate to local organizations in need. Lefever loved the idea and gave his full support.
Ollis then approached the Coatesville Area Senior Center, the Chester County Food Bank, Home of the Sparrow, David’s Drive, La Mancha Animal Rescue, Domestic Violence Center of Chester County to get lists of items needed by each organization, including the Kings Highway Lending Library. Each grade level was then assigned an organization with suggestions of items to collect over a period of about three weeks.
A school wide assembly was held Wednesday afternoon to present the organizations with the items collected and to show the students what they had accomplished.
“Each and everyone of you in here is a hero,” said LeFever to the students, at the beginning of the assembly.
“We have helped so many people, animals and organizations…that’s what makes giving so great. You know that somehow, in some way, you made a difference.”
Students from each grade level were then called onto the stage to unveil what they collected for each organization:
Kindergarten collected 140 items, including hand soap, cleaning wipes and baby wipes for Home of the Sparrow.
Representatives from the Coatesville Area Senior Center, Chester County Food Bank, Home of the Sparrow, David’s Drive, La Mancha Animal Rescue and Domestic Violence Center of Chester County attended the assembly at King’s Highway and were presented with a total of 1,700 items collected school wide by the students.
First grade collected 220 nonperishable items for the Chester County Food Bank.
Second grade collected 425 pairs of men’s’ socks for David’s Drive.
Third grade collected 149 dog beds, blankets and towels for the animals at La Mancha Animal Rescue.
Fourth Grade collected 200 toothbrushes, toothpaste and bars of soap for both the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County and the Coatesville Senior Center.
Fifth Grade collected 350 books for the lending library outside the school.
David Turner, Sr. accepted the donations on behalf of David’s Drive, which is a charity that aims to improve the lives of hospitalized and homeless veterans.
“This is pretty exciting. I know a lot of people who need these socks and they are going to be so happy. Thank you.” Turner said to the students at the assembly.
Virginia Lucas attended the assembly on behalf of La Mancha Animal Rescue and thanked the students on behalf of all animals looking for homes. Lucas impressed the students by bringing two dogs that are now permanent residents at the rescue, with her to the assembly.
Ollis stated that having representatives from each organization attend the assembly to accept the donations was very powerful.
“Hearing them speak to our students made it so much more personal and meaningful to them,” said Ollis.
“Our hope is that this event will leave a lasting impression on our students to continue to be generous, kind, and to think of others less fortunate than themselves.” Ollis stated.
