Lorain, Ohio (November 26, 2019)—Some 225 scholars at Garfield Elementary School will have a very special holiday season, thanks in part to a not-so-secret Santa.
On Nov. 26, scholars and their special someone heard the news that a generous gift of $401 from the Lorain Historical Society would go to purchase each child a gift for the upcoming holiday season. During the school’s “Donut Day,” Tuesday morning, Lorain Historical Society Executive Director Barb Piscopo and Volunteer Coordinator Kay Lewandowski presented the check to Turnaround Principal Megan Young and the school.
Piscopo said her organization’s partnership with the school manifested itself from the district’s monthly Community-Business-Schools Partnership (C-B-S) meetings.
Looking to adopt a school, Piscopo sent an open invitation to anyone looking for a special someone who would help display the positivity within their building.
“Somebody once told me in order to succeed in life, you just need to answer the phone and open the mail,” Piscopo said.
Principal Young answered that call.
In return, six staff members and 70 volunteers from the Historical Society agreed to forego their annual Christmas party and secret Santa gift exchange, and instead donated their monetary contributions to the adopted school to provide “goody bags for these vibrant young students in our local community,” Piscopo added.
In recognition of their high attendance rates and progress shown on the 2018-19 Ohio State Tests, each scholar will receive a personalized drawstring backpack from the non-profit organization, which will in turn be filled with goodies by the school’s PTO members, Young said.
Bags are expected to arrive at the school on Dec. 6, and be distributed to scholars on Dec. 20, just in time for the holidays.
“They donated whatever they could, so you could have a Christmas gift,” Piscopo said as the crowd responded with thunderous applause. “Whether they gave $5, or $100 or $50, it didn’t matter. They gave for you, to recognize all of your achievements and all the things that you have done to bring up your scores as Garfield Elementary.”
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