The Hempfield Area School District was awarded a $5,000 grant to help with two programs that assist underserved children.
Presented by the DMJ Transportation, funds will go toward the district’s Food 2 Go 4 Kids program and West Hempfield Middle School’s caring closet. Food 2 Go 4 Kids, a backpack program that gives qualifying students food to take home during the weekends, is offered to students at West Hempfield, West Point, Stanwood and Fort Allen elementary schools.
Through the program, school and church officials work together to purchase, package and disperse easy-to-make food for students, striving to provide packages each Friday. After the food is delivered to the schools, a group of teachers slips it into the backpacks when students are not watching.
West Hempfield Middle School’s caring closet was founded by Heather Gockel, of Manor, as a way to give back to the community. Every Friday, the Vintage Salon and Spa owner takes donated items — including lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body spray, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and feminine products — to the school, where it is placed on shelves in the boys and girls gymnasium locker rooms.
“I have a check here for $5,000 that’s going to go toward your Food 2 Go and caring closet project as part of our year end rebate program, which allows us to give back to the districts that help make us successful … I’m excited to see the projects come to life,” DMJ Representative Jaimie Barron said during Wednesday’s school board meeting.
Each year, DMJ donates a percentage of a district’s contract back to be used to improve the lives of students. Over $25,000 was given back to 11 districts in 2017, according to the transportation company’s website, used for training programs, field trip competitions, summer camps, school equipment and scholarships.
“We really appreciate what you’re doing for us,” said newly elected board President Tony Bompiani.
