At this time of year we’re constantly amazed at the charitable efforts undertaken by students and staff across the Alameda Unified School District. We can’t describe all of them in this week’s columns, but here’s a taste of the good work being done in the AUSD community this holiday season.
Bay Farm School held a coat drive for the nonprofit One Warm Coat and a diaper drive for the Alameda Food Bank.
Lincoln Middle School held a canned food drive for Meals on Wheels and also asked students to write short letters to be delivered to families in need around the Island.
Encinal Junior and Senior High School served as a drop site for Toys for Tots (345 toys were collected!), One Warm Coat and canned foods. To inspire students to give as much as they can, EHS Leadership sponsored a holiday competition among classes to see who could donate the most.
At Love Elementary School, the Dad’s Club collected food items for the food bank. Alameda High School also held a fundraiser for the food bank, with the reminder that every dollar donated secures $7 worth of food.
Paden Elementary School created a confidential form for families in financial stress and then asked other families to donate gift cards to grocery stores and local businesses to be distributed to those families. The school also asked for donations of clothing, school supplies and toys to be directly distributed to Paden families in need.
Edison Elementary School made a similar offer to its families, also with a promise of confidentiality, and Island High School partnered with the Alameda Food Bank to provide a “mini-pantry” to students needing food support at Thanksgiving. The school will provide it again next week.
The Franklin Falcons collected three large bins of toys for Alameda’s All Good Living store, which will distribute them to families across the Island.
And last month, Camp Edmo, an afterschool care program at Ruby Bridges Elementary School, held a Thanksgiving food drive for families needing support at that school.
Finally, the AUSD’s Business Services Department donated 1,000 COVID-19 rapid tests to the Alameda Food Bank and 200 rapid tests to the Alameda Point Collaborative so that they can offer them to their clients. These were tests that the AUSD would not be able to use before they expire, and we were very happy to find a home for them with our community partners!
We’d like to wish our Island community a warm, safe and spirited holiday season, and we thank you, as always, for the many ways you continue supporting AUSD students, staff and families.
Susan Davis is the Alameda Unified School District’s senior manager for community affairs. Reach her at 510-337-7175 or SDavis@alamedaunified.org.
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