SOS Ends with Success
Posted on Aug. 18, 2005
Imagine arriving for your first day of school, and the teacher asks everyone to take out a pencil and a piece of paper. You look around, only to realize you don’t have a pencil or piece of paper. Such items are taken for granted, as they are easily found in one’s office or backpack; however many of the students at Phalen Lake Elementary School in St. Paul, Minn., cannot afford these simple items.
The Save Our Schools campaign, sponsored by the Community Service Committee, the Student Volunteer Committee, and the Student American Chiropractic Association of Northwestern Health Sciences University, began collecting supplies for less-privileged students on June 27. During the seven-week drive the campaign focused on collecting money to buy different types of supplies such as pencils, backpacks, and crayons. Upon its conclusion on Aug. 12, S.O.S., now in its third year, collected $436 in monetary donations. The money raised this year will be used to purchase additional school supplies for Phalen Lake students, as requested by the school’s principal, Jan Hopke-Almer.
Students, faculty, and staff of Northwestern also donated an array of school supplies, including 35 erasers; 300 notebooks; 217 folders; 10 paper reams; 15 back packs;
6 geometry sets; 61 rulers; 38 colored pencil packs; 32 packs of pens; 53 boxes of markers; 29 pairs of scissors; 348 glue sticks; 32 bottles of glue; 55 pencil boxes; 13 pencil pouches; 87 boxes of crayons; 5 mini notebooks; 6 boxes of Kleenex; and 1 box of snack bags.
“This might have been our best year ever!” says Jeff Graham, human resources recruitment coordinator and co-chair of the Community Service Committee.
Through the campaign, Northwestern employees and students were able to “extend their community of caring,” says Christine Kelly, BA, admissions counselor and co-chair of the Community Services Committee. Northwestern's dedication to community service is stated in the mission of the University, which is to advance and promote natural approaches to health through education, research, clinical services and community involvement.
Graham adds, “We would like to thank the students, staff, and faculty of Northwestern for their time and money; the kids really appreciate it.”