By Special Contributor
Our children have so many thoughts blazing through their little minds from day to day. Insecurities about their school clothes should not be one of them. With that in mind, the Geneva Heights PTA is working with Interfaith Family Services to provide school uniforms for all of the children who come through their doors.
Interfaith Family Services, a local non-profit in the Geneva Heights Elementary attendance zone, aims to break the cycle of poverty through their Family Empowerment program, Housing for Homeless Families and Children’s Services.
For the elementary-aged children participating in these programs, this includes attending school at Geneva Heights. There are currently 17 children attending Geneva Heights from Interfaith’s nearby housing facilities. This number fluctuates from year to year, but the need for basic services remains the same.
Last year, the Geneva Heights PTA opened up the Peace Pantry to help feed the school’s more economically disadvantaged students.
This year, the PTA will begin collecting new, and gently used, uniforms for our students from Interfaith Family Services. The goal is to be able to provide every child with 5 outfits for the next school year.
“Quality education can set the foundation for a life long love of learning and the pursuit for success,” said incoming Geneva Heights PTA President Julie Kim. “Costs associated with education, such as supplies, uniforms, transportation, and food, can cause insecurities and distract our children from focusing on what matters at school. By providing uniforms, our goal is to eliminate one of the barriers that can hinder any child’s right to their Education.”
Geneva Heights students wear red collared shirts and khaki pants or shorts. To donate, look for blue bins at the school, located at 2911 Delmar Avenue, or at 5841 Velasco Avenue.
For more about Geneva Heights Elementary, click here.
