NH-M staff gives back to community

[October 01, 2013]  MIDDLETOWN -- New Holland-Middletown Elementary District 88 faculty, staff and administration volunteered their Saturday morning to make sure that needy students attending school in the district are provided for in the upcoming year.

For the second year in a row, NH-M staff has conducted a charity car wash. The price: a freewill donation that will be used whenever a student has an apparent need for something. In the past, this account has been used to purchase clothes, shoes and winter coats for students in need. The economic downturn has affected many families and communities, and the school district is poised to identify and help any students with a demonstrated need.
 

Teachers Minde Moore (right), Jerry Neisler (center) and Chad Burton (left) wash a vehicle during NH-M's annual charity car wash Saturday.

"This is what is great about a small school district that values family," says NH-M Superintendent Todd Dugan. "Because of our size, we notice when a student needs a new pair of shoes that fit, or a warmer jacket, or even clothes appropriate to the season."

Over the course of three hours on Saturday at the New Holland Community Center, $430 in free will donations were made. New Holland Banking Center made a significant donation of $500 prior to the event. Altogether, $930 was raised that will be used to directly benefit NH-M students and their families.

NH-M seventh-grader Alec Wibben talks to his mother, Annie Coers, as her vehicle is being washed at the New Holland Community Center Saturday.

"The whole experience is very humbling, honestly. To see how much a community values their school and their kids is amazing. It's also a very good practice in servant leadership, since it's not often you see superintendents and teachers down on their knees scrubbing dirty tires in the service of others," Dugan said. "However, I think this effort from our dedicated staff to go above and beyond for our students resounds very loudly in this community. I think people appreciate knowing how much the school supports the community, just as the school appreciates the community's support."

[Text from file received from New Holland-Middletown School District 88]