Santa sat in his oversized red velvet chair with tears running down his chubby cheeks. His chair was at the mall and he was really Mr. Jamison, the local mailman. Yet on December weekends, he was Santa. He loved the little ones with eyes bright that would timidly request one treasured gift. And he also delighted in the bigger more “Santa-experienced” kids as they excitedly rattled off their long, detailed lists of requests. But it was the wish of the last little boy that sat on his lap today that brought him to tears. “Please Santa” the little one whispered, “please help my daddy find a job so we aren’t hungry anymore and I can sleep in a bed instead of the car.”
A Family in Need
The story above is fictional, but its elements are very real. Many children in our community would pass up a fancy toy this Christmas if they could have a full tummy and a real bed. In fact, a few years ago, a TIA parent came in right before Christmas break and asked her child’s teacher if her family could be given any left over food from the Christmas parties. The mother explained they were going through some hard times since her husband lost his job. The teacher went beyond the mother’s request and quickly put together a flyer asking the TIA family to help. And TIA families responded--donating boxes of food to the family in need.The First Annual Food Drive
It was that event that prompted TIA staff to organize an annual food drive for needy families at TIA and eventually for the community at large. On TV we are often made aware of the needs of hungry children all over the world, yet there are many hungry children right here in our community. It is the responsibility and privilege of our school to help those in our TIA family that are in need. In fact there is legislation that insures local school districts are aware of, and protect the rights of, children in their district in need. It is called the McKinney-Vento Act.How the McKinney-Vento Act Protects Homeless Children
Local school districts must appoint Local Education Liaisons to ensure that school staff are aware of the rights of homeless children. The liaisons also provide information to homeless families about various forms of assistance, and facilitate access to school and transportation services. Miss Cannon is the liaison for the McKinney-Vento Act at TIA. The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” The Act then goes on to give examples of children who would fall under this definition:- Children sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing;
- Children living in “motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative accommodations”
- Children living in “emergency or transitional shelters”
- Children “awaiting foster care placement”
- Children whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc.)
- Children living in “cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations…”
Watching Out for One Another
Every year we learn that 2 to 5 TIA district families are legally homeless. Teachers watch for signs that students are hungry or in need. Mr. Montemeyer remembers one student who daily asked for any left-over apples or bananas. If any extra food was available the boy immediately put it in his backpack to take home. When Mr. Montemeyer asked the student about it, the child explained that often the only food he received was lunch at school so the extra food was for his little sister who was not in school yet and may not have anything to eat otherwise. The boy also told Mr. Montemeyer that he and his sister lived with 12 other people in a 2 bedroom apartment.TIA School With a Heart
TIA assists their families in need as much as they can. They help the families by offering free school uniforms, bus passes, gift cards for shoes and clothes, and, of course, the annual food drive. Thousands of items have already been donated. Last year TIA families were so generous, the school was able to donate the surplus to the community food bank. It didn’t take legislation to get TIA families to watch out for their own; it’s what being part of a family is all about. In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. The young they keep out of mischief; to the old they are a comfort and aid in their weakness, and those in the prime of life they incite to noble deeds. ~Aristotle Interested in becoming part of our school family? Enroll online! Story by Betty Kruszka~TheJ3Effect
