It’s all part of the TK Classmates Care program that was started in 2012 by a group of TK High School students who wanted to make sure every TK student had warm winter clothing needed to play outside during recess and at home. Working with teachers and administrators to identify students in need at each of the schools, Classmates Care began providing those warm winter clothing items.
Now, 12 years later, the Classmates Care program helps more students than ever. Mrs. Lienesch’s class oversees the program now, taking in donations, maintaining an inventory, buying items when needed, and filling and delivering requests.
With the recent change in weather, they know they’ll likely have even more requests to fill. Over the past few weeks, the class has packaged and delivered nearly 400 items to Thornapple Kellogg students in need and they know requests will continue coming in, especially as the weather changes.
The class includes students with special needs working alongside general education peers. Every week they work in their storage area at the Early Childhood Center.
The program relies heavily on donations of new and gently used winter attire but also receives financial donations from community supporters including funds from the MKP Reindeer Night and from Thornapple Financial Center and Money Concepts. Lienesch uses the funds to purchase items in need at sales or discount stores.
Families can request donations from the organization through their school buildings or by emailing Mrs. Lienesch at [email protected]. New or clean, gently used winter item donations can be dropped off at the middle school.