Completed:Support the Ladies in Uniform! Deaf Kids Can!!
"I teach deaf and hard of hearing children in grades 2 & 3 at a public elementary school. I and 4 other teachers for the deaf work with 31 students’ ages 3 to 12. The rest of the student population are hearing students.
Since we are located next to a military base, some of our students and faculty ...
"
MORE
"I teach deaf and hard of hearing children in grades 2 & 3 at a public elementary school. I and 4 other teachers for the deaf work with 31 students’ ages 3 to 12. The rest of the student population are hearing students.
Since we are located next to a military base, some of our students and faculty have loved ones serving over seas. With the recent deployment of family members to Iraq and Afghanistan we'd like to reach out and help these students stay connected to loved ones.
The ladies deployed have said they would like picture note cards, decorative stationary for loved ones young and old, (envelopes and pens), packs of various flavors of powder mix to add to water for drinking, and they are begging for long lasting air fresheners. We'll be sending a variety of hard candy, twizzlers, etc., These items do get delivered to their camp stores but are sold out quickly and soldiers have to wait a long time for the next delivery. Our order also includes large zip lock bags and packing supplies. We'll be supplementing the packing and adding supplies we can't get though this grant and buying individual Kleenex packs, and a few ladies items.
Two of our students have either a mom or an aunt serving overseas. Our order would be for the ladies we know and we are asking them to share with women they work with with a goal of reaching 25 to 30 soldiers.
My students would be plotting the locations of the family members and learning about the use of the items we are sending over. Every part of this experience is an opportunity to teach vocabulary, definitions and geography!
You will help ensure my students show their concern and reach out to others. Our school is what is called a Title 1 school, which means 80% or more of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. You will make this task of helping others possible by helping us provide supplies for 25 to 30 soldiers far away. THANKS!!! We also will be asking our school to help us raise money for the shipping.
My students need 13 items including picture note cards, decorative stationary, powdered drink mix, air fresheners, large zip lock bags and packing supplies.
I wanted to let you know how our project unfolded. The students were very excited as the boxes started arriving and we began to open them up. With every box, I reminded the children these things are for the soldiers working very far away. To give a face to the project we invited Sgt. Stacie to come and speak to all four Deaf and Hard of Hearing classes. She came in uniform and brought a map of Iraq and pictures of her experiences. She explained to the students about her duties and that some days it was 125 degrees outside. WHEW!
Each class divided supplies, counted out candy, pens, pencils, paper, envelopes, air fresheners, drink mixes, etc. into Ziplock bags to prepare for packing. They all helped by decorating boxes, packing and then wrapping the boxes. We prepared 13 boxes and we were waiting for a list of lady soldiers that Sgt. Stacie was getting from her current connection in Iraq. The list came and there were 23 ladies in the same unit on the list. Hmmm! What to do?
Our department holds an annual Thanksgiving Lunch, and our classes share through songs, skits and art work what they are thankful for. This year in addition to inviting the families, we recruited men and women serving in the Army to come visit and show our appreciation to them. We shared our on going project and asked for help with additional supplies. So over the next 2 weeks, families and staff donated additional items and by Christmas we mailed 25 boxes to our new military contacts serving over seas! Yeah for the seed money you provided, to help us reach out and then to get wonderful community support to help it grow and go!!
With gratitude, Ms. G.
Ms. G. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, I was so excited to see the email announcing that our class project has been funded! This project will help us take that next step of reaching out to places far away and letting the students give to these wonderful ladies who are serving our country.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO FUND THIS AND ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO KEEP ON LEARNING. WE WILL BE TAKING PICTURES EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
"I gave to this project because I believe our military men and women need and deserve our support. I appreciate the fact that the women are the target group as they have unique personal and emotional needs that need to be addressed."
"I live in North Carolina; I served with the Marine Corps in North Carolina; my children were educated in North Carolina; and I want to support kids in North Carolina!"
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Margo B. (volunteer)
on Jun 7, 2009
