LAMBDA REPORT
Our goal was to assist homeless students in Temple ISD, particularly at the high school level. We wanted to provide them with basic needs. As the year went on, it became apparent also that one basic need was for those students to feel cared for and able to fit in with their classmates. We provided bags of basic hygiene products; made fleece blankets; purchased gift cards for incidental needs; bought bus tokens for the local public bus; put together "goodie bags" at Christmas and Valentine's Day; donated hats, gloves, and scarves; restocked the hygiene product shelves at the school; and paid for one student's graduation cap and gown so she could walk the stage with her class.
In September, the chapter purchased hygiene products, and members assembled hygiene bags to be distributed to individual students as the need arrived. In November, members made no-sew fleece blankets. Members donated gift cards and goodie bags at Christmas; for Valentine's Day, the chapter purchased fast-food gift cards and members brought goodie bags to distribute to students. Along the way, the members determined how they wanted to spend the money, and contributed hygiene items and cloth bags for students to use when moving.
We felt that the project was very successful. While there is no actual test data or other objective measurement that we can provide, we have anecdotal evidence that the grant money was put to good use. Mr. Hollie, the resource officer and after-school center coordinator, reported that the hygiene bags and items were desperately needed and were very much appreciated. We received thank-you notes from the students for the gift bags, and Mr. Hollie told us how pleased and surprised they were that someone had thought of them. One student wrote: "Thank you for the Christmas gifts. They made a real difference for me." Another wrote: "Thank you so much for the Christmas presents. They really made my day a whole lot better!" An assistant principal told us a student just hugged the gift bag to his chest; another told her he'd never received a Valentine's Day gift before. Testimonial from Gill Hollie, resource officer for homeless students in TISD: "We served close to 91 students throughout the 2021/22 school term. These items definitely boosted student morale and were a plus in meeting their daily needs." Testimonial from Dr. Kelli Powell, assistant principal at THS: "I cannot point to an improvement in test scores; however, I know many felt they could be "normal" for a day by going to lunch with friends at a local eatery. The grant addressed basic necessities and holiday celebrations. I can say, as evidenced by the thank you notes, that students felt cared for and supported."
We felt that the project was very successful.
In September, the chapter purchased hygiene products, and members assembled hygiene bags to be distributed to individual students as the need arrived. In November, members made no-sew fleece blankets. Members donated gift cards and goodie bags at Christmas; for Valentine's Day, the chapter purchased fast-food gift cards and members brought goodie bags to distribute to students. Along the way, the members determined how they wanted to spend the money, and contributed hygiene items and cloth bags for students to use when moving.
We felt that the project was very successful. While there is no actual test data or other objective measurement that we can provide, we have anecdotal evidence that the grant money was put to good use. Mr. Hollie, the resource officer and after-school center coordinator, reported that the hygiene bags and items were desperately needed and were very much appreciated. We received thank-you notes from the students for the gift bags, and Mr. Hollie told us how pleased and surprised they were that someone had thought of them. One student wrote: "Thank you for the Christmas gifts. They made a real difference for me." Another wrote: "Thank you so much for the Christmas presents. They really made my day a whole lot better!" An assistant principal told us a student just hugged the gift bag to his chest; another told her he'd never received a Valentine's Day gift before. Testimonial from Gill Hollie, resource officer for homeless students in TISD: "We served close to 91 students throughout the 2021/22 school term. These items definitely boosted student morale and were a plus in meeting their daily needs." Testimonial from Dr. Kelli Powell, assistant principal at THS: "I cannot point to an improvement in test scores; however, I know many felt they could be "normal" for a day by going to lunch with friends at a local eatery. The grant addressed basic necessities and holiday celebrations. I can say, as evidenced by the thank you notes, that students felt cared for and supported."
We felt that the project was very successful.