August 14, 2017 at 11:21 a.m.
Lakeland Sharing Foundation gears students up for school year
Services over 1,000 students
Lakeland Sharing Foundation gears students up for school year
By Abbey McEnroe-
The Lakeland Sharing Foundation, formed in 2001, provides backpacks filled with necessary supplies for the upcoming school year to 43 percent of elementary school students in the Lakeland Union High School district.
The students who are provided with the backpacks and supplies are those who qualify for free and reduced-fee lunches.
Last Wednesday, about 20 community volunteers gathered at Arbor Vitae-Woodruff School to strategically pack backpacks for students from Minocqua-Hazelhurst-Lake Tomahawk, AV-W, and North Lakeland elementary schools. Lac du Flambeau Public School hands out a backpack to every student and gives students supplies as the year goes on.
"This day, when all these community volunteers come in, they pack the backpacks; then each school comes and picks up their backpacks and they send them out at registration day for students who are on free and reduced lunch who normally couldn't afford backpacks," AV-W sixth grade teacher and coordinator of the backpack program Jen Savel said.
Among the volunteers are those whose employers pay for their employees to volunteer within the Lakeland community.
"Some of the employers in town, Park City (Credit Union), River Valley (Bank) encourage them (employees) to do community service, so they are working but they come here to help out," Savel stated. "They've been with us, both River Valley and Park City, for multiple years and that's just awesome."
NaviHealth also participates in this program.
Kathy Rebek, a River Valley Bank employee and four-year volunteer of the Lakeland Sharing Foundation, said she enjoys volunteering for such a worthy cause as well as having an employer that encourages volunteering.
"Just because it's something for the kids and it's very important to me and to my employer to help out the community, especially children," Rebek said of why she enjoys volunteering.
Max Nowak, a seventh grader at AV-W, said he enjoyed volunteering because he was "helping kids in need."
The Lakeland Sharing Foundation not only provides students with supplies, but also a peace of mind. Savel said it's important for students to begin the year without the added stress of not having the necessary supplies.
"It's very rewarding that they can start off on the right foot, that they don't have to come to school without the things they need to be successful," Savel expressed.
The Lakeland Sharing Foundation purchased about $17,000 worth of backpacks and school supplies for needy students, as well as having donated supplies from the community.
"It's two types of donations, people individually but then people monetarily, being able to donate their money and then we purchase the supplies," Savel explained.
To donate or get in contact with the Lakeland Sharing Foundation visit its website at lakelandsharing.org, email [email protected], call 715-277-3434, or mail at P.O. Box 153, Woodruff, WI 54568.
Abbey McEnroe may be reached via email at [email protected].
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