BATH TWP.: No one is ever too young to understand and learn that it truly is better to give than to receive. That is a lesson well-learned by all of the students at Bath Elementary School after a school-wide clothing drive last month to benefit those in need at the Summit County Children’s Services Bureau.
Julia Mothersbaugh, with CSB, was at the school doing an in-service program for the Revere staff members, according to BES Principal Dan Fry. During that program, Mothersbaugh spoke about the amount of clothing CSB distributes to needy families and the children placed in foster care. That prompted fifth grade teacher Susan Heiser to talk with her homeroom class about a clothing drive.
That’s all it took for the fifth-grade students in Heiser’s and Bev Haury’s homerooms at BES to go into action.
The students created presentations and went to each of the school’s fourth and fifth grade homerooms to discuss their idea. Then they created announcements, flyers and posters to advertise the clothing drive.
“Once the drive began, the students utilized their time in the mornings before school to collect, sort, organize, label and bag the donations,” explained Fry, adding that all told, the students collected more than 125 trash bags of clothing.
“The students displayed a lot of initiative and leadership in this project,” said Fry. “Plus, they are learning the value of giving and helping those less fortunate.”
With the three-week drive finished, the students loaded the 125 bags onto a school bus and then climbed on board themselves to personally deliver the donation at the end of November.
“Representatives from CSB welcomed the kids and gave them a quick tour of the facility,” said Fry, adding that the entire project was a great experience for the kids.
“I am so proud of our students,” said Fry. “This is another great example of our students being Bath Team Heroes by looking for opportunities to help others and to be leaders in their community.”
