The recently-resolved federal government shutdown was a heartbreaking event for the Clinton Middle School Family.
How, teachers and staff wondered, would students have a Thanksgiving meal if their SNAP benefits were denied by a shutdown that at one point seems unsolvable.
That wondering led to action, a small wave at first that turned into a tsunami. By the time about 70 boxes of “Thanksgiving in a box” meal ingredients were ready for distribution, the mission had turned into a lesson for students, and adults alike, that there is more out there to see and help with than just one school in one small city.
CMS Principal Jeff Parks told The Chronicle that four staff members sparked the effort: Keri Lawson, Cathy Easter, Erica Coats, and Sonya Atkinson. A “Thanksgiving in a box” list already was available, from a church mission to benefit the SafeHome; and they shopped for specific brands (Velvetta mac and cheese, Stovetop dressing) because they didn’t want the receiving families to be disrespected into thinking they were doing this “on the cheap.” They ordered so much from Walmart Delivery that the delivery person was made an honorary staff member. The word of their effort began to spread.
The West Fraser paper company committed to 50 turkeys, to accompany what originally was envisioned to be 50 boxes, but then they realized, Where are we going to get 50 turkeys? Enter Big D’s Butcher Shop which placed and delivered that order - 52 turkeys last Wednesday. Each box comes with a $15 Walmart gift card, provided by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, and a $25 Food Lion gift card, provided by Parking Lot Pro, so the box-recipients could buy additions to the meal, based on their preferences. Coats Insurance stepped up as the need for gift cards escalated.
Students helped pack the boxes, but they did not participate in the distribution; faculty handled that so there would be no embarrassment (more than 80% of Clinton Middle School students qualify for federal food assistance). The School District 56 administrative staff had collected money to buy turkeys for deserving families, so they gave that money to the middle school’s effort - that way the 10 boxes above the 50 goal could have turkeys, too. They were still working, on Friday, how to get turkeys for the 10 boxes above (now) 60 that there was other items to make available.
Parks wrote to The Chronicle, “The idea started small and took on a life of its own. This weekend (Nov. 22), we will distribute this on a first come, first serve basis to families of Clinton Middle School students who are in need! Life can be tough at times and I am hopeful that this can help make someone’s Thanksgiving a bit better!”
In addition to Leader in Me and Beta Club students at Clinton Middle, members of the Boys Soccer Team at Clinton High School bought items for and packed boxes for this distribution. The school’s cafeteria freezer was packed with turkeys, prior to the distribution. Boxes were “recycled” from the boxes of paper that the school uses for instruction. Some deliveries were made to transportation-challenged families, who were extremely gracious in their response to this help.
Notice of the distribution was handled on the school website and in an all-call to families.
There is $30 worth of food in each one of these boxes, and there likely will be at least 70 boxes that have been packed, so YOU do the math. That was one of our worst subjects in middle school.
— Vic MacDonald
