[October 01, 2013]MIDDLETOWN -- New Holland-Middletown Elementary
District 88 faculty, staff and administration volunteered their
Saturday morning to make sure that needy students attending school
in the district are provided for in the upcoming year.
For the second year in a row, NH-M staff has conducted a charity car
wash. The price: a freewill donation that will be used whenever a
student has an apparent need for something. In the past,
this account has been used to purchase clothes, shoes and winter
coats for students in need. The economic downturn has affected many
families and communities, and the school district is poised to
identify and help any students with a demonstrated need.
Teachers
Minde Moore (right), Jerry Neisler (center) and Chad Burton
(left) wash a vehicle during NH-M's annual charity car wash
Saturday.
"This is
what is great about a small school district that values family,"
says NH-M Superintendent Todd Dugan. "Because of our size, we notice
when a student needs a new pair of shoes that fit, or a warmer
jacket, or even clothes appropriate to the season."
Over the course of three hours on Saturday at the New Holland
Community Center, $430 in free will donations were made. New Holland
Banking Center made a significant donation of $500 prior to the
event. Altogether, $930 was raised that will be used to directly
benefit NH-M students and their families.
NH-M seventh-grader Alec Wibben talks to his mother, Annie Coers, as her
vehicle is being washed at the New Holland Community Center
Saturday.
"The whole experience is very humbling, honestly. To see how much a
community values their school and their kids is amazing. It's also a
very good practice in servant leadership, since it's not often you
see superintendents and teachers down on their knees scrubbing dirty
tires in the service of others," Dugan said. "However, I think this
effort from our dedicated staff to go above and beyond for our
students resounds very loudly in this community. I think people
appreciate knowing how much the school supports the community, just
as the school appreciates the community's support."
