Inspired by an article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that schools are seeing an increase in the number of children enrolled in the free lunch program, Luke Donovan was compelled to make difference in his community.
The freshman at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell did more research and decided to directly help the children and families of Mimosa Elementary School, a school five miles from his home. More than 90 percent of the school’s children are on the free lunch program.
Donovan, 15, got involved with his school and the volunteers at Society of St. Vincent de Paul to find a way to give back. “We started out with planning on getting donations with food, but schools and the local areas have so many programs in place for that,” said Donovan. “The principal at Mimosa Elementary, [Lynn Johnson], told us that the need is for winter clothes was higher. So, we focused our mission to collect coats.”
Started last fall, and encouraging community involvement, Donovan collected more than 250 coats and winter clothes for the families and children at Mimosa Elementary.
Johnson recalls, “He came in with so many bags of clothes, all organized, that we couldn’t believe he had collected so much!”
The school held a thrift shop on the two days before Thanksgiving break, and by the second day, not one article of clothing was left. About40 families were helped due to the donations by the community. “That in itself shows what a need we have for this community around us,“ she added.
With so many clothes collected, summer styles included, the school is planning to have another thrift shop before spring break. However, Donovan says, this is a continued effort. Clothes donations can be continually made to Mimosa Elementary to supply seasonal clothing items.
“To learn that the clothes were gone in two days showed me how an action can directly affect a problem,” added Donovan, who also volunteers with Adopt-a-Family and Stand Up for Kids. “If everyone got involved and donated some of their time, we can all really change our community.”
To get involved with the clothing drive, contact Mimosa Elementary School at 770- 552-4540.
In other news: The international exhibit design and fabrication firm Expotechnik, headquartered in Suwanee, made a $3,000 donation to Rainbow Village. The organization, located in Duluth, provides homeless families of North Metro Atlanta with transitional housing and education that helps them achieve self-sufficiency. In addition to housing, it provides a secure environment, access to childcare, counseling, job skills training, and after-school programs.
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