On August 31st, 2012, Benteen Elementary School hosted a clothing and school supply campaign for the families of the community. They opened the campaign during the morning and afternoon for parents to take as many items as needed for free! It was a huge success, as about 75 parents arrived at the school starting at 7:30 a.m. to participate. The room was overflowing with families taking advantage of the many book bags, gently used clothing, books, school supplies, shoes, and school uniforms that were supplied for them.
Joi Thrash, the Assistant Principal at Benteen, coordinated this event with the help of several staff members for about a month. They created flyers, called parents, and spread the news by word of mouth. All of the items were donated by a law firm, personal friends, and staff members. “I felt that it was a great success, and that the parents really were appreciative of the nice things that were provided. It feels good to me as a leader to know that this campaign was a success and touched the lives of many,” says Joi Thrash.
Although the campaign was a great opportunity for families to gain useful items, such as coats and boots for the winter, it was also a great way for them to connect and bond with the school. This event opened a door for parents to be involved with the school and interact with the faculty as well. One of the parents stated, “We need to do this more often because it makes parents come out of the community and have a face in the school.” This campaign served as a perfect medium to reach the parents, as many of the families were in need of the things that this event provided. “I believe that the Benteen Gives Campaign will tighten the bond between parents and the school for years to come, because our help reassures the parents that we genuinely care,” says Simone Hubbard, PTA President. Because of their great success, Benteen is already planning similar events, such as a coat drive before Christmas. We are really looking forward to the upcoming events at Benteen as they continue to share great things with their community!
