Charter schools are places of support for families across the nation, offering a learning safe haven for kids no matter their background. But the support charter schools offer often doesn’t end in the classroom. We gathered these powerful stories of charter schools making a difference for their communities this holiday season. Read and watch news coverage of these inspiring schools and the work they’ve done on behalf of others this year!
1. Dream Charter School – making sure students don’t go hungry – 300 turkeys
Dream Charter School in the Bronx prepared bags of ingredients for holiday meals this season, bags containing turkeys, fresh produce, and more. The volunteers were, in the words of Senior Director of Family Community Engagement Nadirah Chestnut, “really excited to ring in the holiday season in the spirit of service.” 300 students and families in the Bronx will have warm holiday meals thanks to their generosity.
2. Epic Charter School – “Suitcase Project” supplies for 1500 homeless students
Epic Charter School donated supplies for 1,500 students facing homelessness in their annual Suitcase Project. The volunteers packed suitcases full of books, coats, gloves, and toiletries—their community collected over 15,000 donated items. Sharla Conaway, the Family Engagement Community Outreach Specialist for Epic, called it an “overwhelming response of love and kindness.”
3. Kipp Star Harlem Elementary – Today News coverage of toy drive and Holiday Surprise
Kipp Star Harlem Elementary kicked off the holiday season by setting a goal of raising 1000 pairs of socks for people in shelters. During October—or, “Socktober” as they named it—the kids were able to exceed their goal by tenfold, collecting 9,000 pairs of socks. They kept the energy going by hosting a Thanksgiving food drive followed by a toy drive this December. “You’re never too young to understand what it means to help someone else,” said the school’s principal, Brandi Vardiman.
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