Thanksgiving

This week’s article summary is School's Private Pop-up Shops Lets Underserved Students Buy Basics With Dignity.

As we all head off for our week-longThanksgiving Break, this article is both inspiring and sobering.

I think we all know that many students in America rely on their schools not only for an education but for the necessities of life, in particular meals.

To think that many kids might not have access to food when schools are closed for Thanksgiving Vacation is a tragic reality in America.

While I was inspired by this particular school’s solution in providing essentials to some of its students, I also shudder at the contrast between these students’ and my life-long advantages and privileges.

I take for granted that I can eat when and what I want. I can afford to eat healthy. (An extra dollar for ‘organically grown' cherry tomatoes? Sure.) I can eat at a restaurant pretty much whenever I want. (Maybe not $$$$ restaurants, but even them on special occasions.)

I know it’s cliché at Thanksgiving to bring up the topic of helping others, but I hope the article below gives us pause to assess our societal obligation to support others who are not as fortunate as we are (for whatever reasons and in whatever ways). The fact the the article is about kids makes me even more both melancholy and militant.

The quote below—from author J. Robert Moskin--was too heavy to read at this morning's assembly (and aimed at adults, not kids), but to me it captures the universality of the human condition and the need to as often as possible take stock of what we are grateful for. (Behind the dark imagery is optimism and hope the vast majority of us around the world and throughout history embrace):

Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness,

Universal to all ages and all faiths.

At whatever straws we must grasp,

There is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings

Enough preaching.  I want to publicly thank all of you for your part in making Trinity the wonderful school it is! I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Trinity community and to have the opportunity to work with all of you. I am awed daily by your talents, energy, selflessness, and kindness!

Enjoy Thanksgiving Break, and, if you happen to be traveling, do so safely!

Joe

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Students require more than just books to succeed in school, and this innovative resource is helping teens in need build confidence both in and out of the classroom.

Administrators and the student government at Washington High School, in Washington, North Carolina, have created an anonymous, in-house shopping experience that provides underprivileged students with basic resources like food, hygienic products, school supplies and clothing.

To eliminate stigma or judgment, students are able to discreetly approach a school administrator to privately take what they need from the shelves, where all items are targeted specifically to teenagers.

“If we want academics to improve, we have to make certain we’re meeting our students’ basic needs,” Misty Walker, the school principal, told The Huffington Post. “We want to strengthen our community, and schooling is just one aspect of that.”

The idea for the pantry came about when Walker realized her students' needs were constantly growing. Though Washington High offers free and reduced meals, some students would not eat their next meal until they were back at school the next day, Walker explained. Students even began coming up to her personally, asking for items like toothpaste and toothbrushes.

As more of these needs began to surface, Walker consulted with Washington High School partner Bright Futures -- an organization focused on school and community development. With the group, school administrators and the student leaders first developed a hygiene closet, and when that was successful, local donors helped expand the service into a school supply closet, food pantry and clothing shop.

“It’s a slightly different concept because we focused really on trying to help our high schoolers, versus the experience of preparing a whole box of food for a family,” Walker said.

To gain access to these resources, students simply speak in confidence with a teacher, counselor or administrator about their needs. A member of the school staff will then take them to shop in the pantries, all of which are located inside the school. This system both provides teens in need with basic resources, and strengthens the school community.

Over the past six weeks the program has been up and running, Walker estimates about 15% of the total student body has utilized the resources. With Thanksgiving approaching, the school is making sure they are fully stocked to ensure students don't have to go without during the long weekend.

“For our students who have a lot of needs, sometimes they’re hesitant to let someone know what their needs are,” Walker explained. “But once they develop a relationship [with a guidance counselor or teacher] and you treat them in a professional, genuine caring manner, it helps build their self esteem”.