On December 15th,16th and 17th we pulled off the largest project we have ever done in our organization’s history and we were able to make the holidays of the 256 Pasteur families a little merrier. None of this would have been possible without the enormous response to our last e-blast and the incredible generosity of our community of Friends!
We “adopted” 18 families of the families, sending clothes, toys and books to 68 kids, a gift card to Meijer and a food box, provided by Project Healthy Community. But the project didn’t end there. Every Pasteur family got a $75 Meijer gift card, a toy or book for each Pasteur student and some household goods for their parents. We owe tremendous thanks to our board members, the volunteers and the Pasteur staff who did the planning, the shopping and the schlepping!
But this is not the end and our work is not done. When the pandemic started last March, one generous donor asked how can we continue to help if the crisis lasts through November? Now we are asking, how will we continue to help through the winter? Covid-19 continues to riddle the country and it has wreaked havoc with our students. Remote learning has been difficult and, in some cases, impossible for too many. Any adult who spends a lot of time on zoom calls or isolated from friends can attest to the strain and tension that we feel. Imagine how it is for children. Our kids have been dealing with this for months and it’s not good. Online attendance is low, some
kids just don’t log in and the grades are dropping for the majority of students, even those who do show up every day.
These children are missing the socialization of being with their friends or the pat on the back from a teacher that’s so needed. Let’s face it. The things that keep kids happy and interested in school are missing. The teachers and staff are recommending an incentive program to get the kids engaged and online every day. Some incentives are free, but some cost money like coupons for fast food, a pizza dinner for their family or a gift card to a store. There are lots of possibilities if a program like this has our backing.
Many of you have been so generous, even donating 2 – 3 times this year and we are so grateful! If you have not yet finished your yearend contributions, please consider reaching a little deeper to
help get this program off the ground. Every dollar you give goes directly to Pasteur families!
. . . and yes, for those who don’t remember, we are a 501 (c) (3).
