Community responds with ‘overwhelming’ generosity

It started with a social media post announcing a fundraiser selling snacks during upcoming MAPS testing, but it ended with an outpouring of donations and community support that will allow every student in the middle school to receive extra snacks – and every child in the elementary as well. 

 

The school does usually provide a snack to all students on test day at the school’s own cost, but the fundraiser for extra snacks benefits the Culture and Climate group, which acknowledges and rewards teachers and students throughout the year. According to Dr. Jon Johnson, middle school principal and incoming superintendent, Culture and Climate sets up a fundraising concession stand sometimes and planned to do so on the morning of testing. 

 

However, following the announcement of the fundraiser, there were concerns within the community that kids would be left out, Dr. Johnson said. The community response was “immediate.” 

 

“Within thirty minutes, we had enough, and more, to give everyone extra snacks,” Johnson told Howell County News. “It was overwhelming how quickly the community responded.”

 

Many of the donors were individual community members who wish to remain anonymous. The largest donor was the Willow Springs Community Foundation (WSCF). On Friday, they presented a check for more than $3,800 to the school, enough for all the kids in the middle school. 

 

“That’s what we’re all about: trying to help improve the community,” WSCF board president Phil Chafin told Howell County News.