Amid the seasonal festivities of parties, winter concerts and decorations, Lakeland School System (LSS) students helped make Christmas a little brighter for those less fortunate this holiday season.
The third grade class of Christy Parsley decorated and filled goodie bags to take to the Memphis Union Mission this week.
Tiffany Maclin, LES PTA president, said, “Each student decorated a bag and filled it with items such as BAND-AIDS, toothbrushes, toothpaste, gloves, hand sanitizers, lotion, granola bars, peanut butter and crackers and other essentials the homeless could use. The blessing bags were delivered to the Memphis Union Mission downtown. The class loved giving back to those less fortunate.”
Both schools support an Angel Tree Program which identifies families in need. Students are asked to contribute $3 each for this fund with the recipient families identified by school guidance counselors. The Angel Tree Program is coordinated by the LES PTA and LMPS PTO.
Mrs. Maclin said LES provided 19 families with Christmas gifts. Kristin Hicks, chair of the LMPS program, said nine children were identified and wish list items were purchased for the children.
Last month, LMPS students participated in the “Give Back Project” to create and give goodie bags to the Elmcroft Assisted Living Home in Bartlett. The bags were delivered Nov. 29 by the LMPS Mane Melody Choir following their performance at the Peabody Hotel.
Lakeland high school students attend Arlington High School through an interlocal between the two cities until a high school is built in Lakeland.
Winter holidays for Lakeland public schools begin today (12.21.18) with classes resuming Jan. 7, 2019.
