(September 2012, Presque Isle, Maine)--As a member of an organizing committee...Shawn Cunningham, Mrs. PI Corporate America/Mrs. Aroostook County and the three kiwanis clubs that make up District One in New England (the communities of Presque Isle, Caribou and Easton) helped kids start the new school year off on a sound start...with new school supplies and a commitment to academic excellence. Cunningham went to all three clubs advocating for their help in bringing the project to fruition seeing the need in the immediate community and after talking to area teachers, parents and families.
Originally the idea was to collect actual supplies by turning asking the communities to give. But after much thought and support from club members & leadership, more than five hundred dollars in funding was approved by the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club to go out and buy actual supplies from area businesses including Walmart and Marden's. And this initiative is a "three club-three community" effort with the clubs of Caribou and Easton agreeing to work with school departments and PTO's in their communities to get supplies and help meet the academic needs of kids.
Kiwanis President LaNiece Winslow and committee member Penny McHatten went out to buy supplies that in turn were delivered to Pine Tree Elementary in Presque Isle. The club hopes this is just the beginning. The mission of kiwanis is to help the children of world in need and what better way to help them succeed in school than with new supplies at the beginning of the school year! It helps their self esteem, it lets them know its not just their parents, but an entire community support them. It gives them every opportunity to excel!
The story even made the front page of the local newspaper...The Star Herald and WAGM-TV did a full story on the drive as well.
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