PTOs and PTAs Reach Out to Families in Their Communities

Parent groups run all sorts of community service projects to help others, be they the elderly or disadvantaged in their town or people in other countries devastated by natural disasters. But often PTOs and PTAs find those who need the most help are right within their school community. This can be tricky. Parent groups may want to give assistance to families who are struggling, but aren't sure how to help without calling attention to their plights. The best approach is to seek out the principal and ask for help. Chances are, the principal will be happy to assist you or may direct you to a few teachers who can work with you. Together, you can discreetly get help to families in need. Here are two examples of how PTOs and PTAs help out their own community members:

• Weekend food deliveries. The PTO at Nate Perry Elementary in Liverpool, N.Y., found a way to get food to families by teaming up with a network of teachers and bus drivers for a backpack program. Each Thursday, the PTO fills backpacks with a variety of food supplies. On Fridays, the PTO delivers them to teachers with students who will be receiving a backpack. Teachers quietly hand off the backpacks to bus drivers at the end of the school day. The bus driver hands the backpack to the student as he or she gets off the bus.

• Shop for free. Rhonda Lageson, a PTA volunteer with Century Elementary and Middle schools in Park Rapids, Minn., created Helping Hands, a school store where everything is free. This came about because Lageson wanted to help children she had seen at school without coats and boots—necessary gear for Minnesota's frigid winters. It blossomed into something bigger, and now Helping Hands supplies families with all sorts of clothing as well as personal supplies. Teachers work with parents and quietly let Lageson know who will be visiting Helping Hands. At times, Lageson will get a direct request from a family for specific supplies and she will make arrangements for them to pick up what they need. Also, children will stop by to pick up items when sent by a teacher.

For additional ideas on community service projects, go to these articles: How PTOs Help Families in Need
Ideas That Raises Students' Social Awareness
Planning a PTO Community Service Project