In March, I attended a meeting with a Southwest Florida elementary school that I heard needed a little bit of community backing. During this meeting, I was shocked to hear that teachers were using their own money to provide basic needs to their students, who came to school hungry, lacked school supplies needed for the class and often came to school in the same outfit or their outfits were too small. I really felt called to not only serve the school and students, but to serve the teachers who were giving their all to these children they are with daily.
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
Jaimie Layne is the community representative for Grace Works Unlimited, graceworksunlimited.org, a nonprofit that helps communities through service programs and projects.
All over Lee County, there is a huge need in our school system. Many schools are Title I, meaning that they have high concentrations of low-income children attending. Teachers have recognized that there is a vast number of students lacking basic needs, such as food, clothing, toiletries and school supplies.
I am the community representative for Grace Works Unlimited, a local nonprofit. I developed a program that we launched after meeting with our first school, called Blessings Pantries, and it took off running. These pantries are designed to aid teachers who recognize a need within their classrooms and support them so they don’t have to spend their own money.
We continuously fill the shelves with the basic needs the administration says their students are lacking by individual donations and community support. These pantries not only benefit the students to improve their abilities to learn, but they also provide a stress relief for the teachers, so they may focus on teaching students instead of meeting basic needs.
Grace Works Unlimited partners with administration at schools throughout the county, designates a small closet to fill so teachers have access, and throughout the year teachers can take what is needed for their students.
Courtesy of Grace Works Unlimited
One of Grace Works Unlimited's Blessings Pantries
The Blessings Pantries serve as a gateway for the community to partner and get involved by supporting teachers and students in successful education. After the Lee County School District received word of what we were doing, I had a one-on-one meeting to discuss the Blessings Pantries program and they fell in love with the idea. They partnered with us by sending us in the right direction to the schools who need these Blessings Pantries the most.
This summer, we were busy getting four pantries ready and set up for a successful 2019-2020 school year. I predict that by the end of the year, we will be partnering with over 10 schools in the Lee County School District.Thanks to some amazing community partners, we are on our way to filling the shelves with basic needs the students are lacking, but we are inconstant need of donated supplies to continue stocking the shelves throughout the year. For a complete list of items that are needed for our Blessings Pantries or to donate to support this program, please jaimie@graceworksunlimited.org.
Jaimie Layne is the community representative for Grace Works Unlimited, graceworksunlimited.org, a nonprofit that helps communities through service programs and projects.