Commodores Care Holiday Share: (Commodores Kids)
The purpose behind the Commodores Care Holiday Share (Commodores Kids) project is to give back to the needy & homeless children at Cherry Street Elementary School
The Professional Employee Committee is sponsoring this school to try and provide these needy students with food and various items to be used during the extended holiday break coming up for Bay District Schools.
Many of the children in Bay County only get a daily breakfast and lunch while at school, many go without for dinner daily and without food over the weekends. With the Holiday break quickly approaching, we wanted to make sure these children did not go without.
We have chosen to sponsor Cherry Street Elementary, which is located in the Cove, in Panama City. Cherry Street Elementary has 100% free and reduced lunches for all students, with 86% of our students receiving some type of federal aid (food stamps, WIC, etc.) They have a total of 360 students at this time and that fluctuates up and down about 20 students on a regular basis.
Here is some information on some of the students provided by several faculty members from Cherry Street Elementary:
“Just this year, we have had a student who lost a parent in a tragic accident. Luckily, the other parent was able to move back to town to help take care of the child. We have many homeless students, who are living with friends and family members, but not in what would be considered a traditional home. We have families living in hotels. We have a family with the power shut off, many with no or broken washers and dryers. We have many students who come to school dirty, hungry, and wearing ill-fitting clothes. Many of them do not have proper jackets and have never owned a pair of gloves or a hat to stay warm during the winter months. Many sleep on the floor, or a rug, or a couch in their homes because they do not have enough beds. Some do not sleep well, and so many do not feel safe in their homes.” Stacie Eckles- Assistant Administrator
“I have been on the house visits and witnessed the lifestyles that our children are faced with and the families do the best they can to make it work. One instance that stands out to me happened this school year, one of our families has four children that attend Cherry Street. The youngest child is currently in my class. His grandfather has custody of him, his brother, and his two cousins all who attend Cherry Street. Grandfather was lying in his room one morning and the youngest walked into the room to tell him something. Grandfather had no idea who anyone was or where he was. One of the older children called 911 and EMS came and picked up grandfather. The children stayed behind with a friend of the grandfather's. At some point the children were able to go to the hospital and they were left there, in the ICU waiting room, while their unconscious grandfather who was on a ventilator, was in ICU. Grandfather stayed in the hospital for a few weeks before he was able to go home. Money was tight. The children didn't have clothes or shoes. Our district found donations in their size for the children to wear to school and at home. After a few weeks, grandfather was discharged back home but it is still hard for him to get around.” Samantha Tindell- VPK Paraprofessional