DECEMBER AT MACAFEE ROAD SCHOOL SCHOOL

FOCUSES ON GIVING INSTEAD OF RECEIVING

 

By:  Ann McCall

Public Information Coordinator

Franklin Township Board of Education

732-873-2400 Ext.290

amccall@franklinboe.org

 

During the month of December, while most children are thinking about holidays, presents, snow and their upcoming winter break, the students at MacAfee Road School in Franklin Township are focusing on collecting items for local families in need.  6 years ago MacAfee Road School was the first school in the district to put up a “Giving Tree”.  The tree is set up in the main lobby and students and staff are encouraged to bring in items that will be given to local shelters.  This year the shelter receiving the items will be Elijah’s Promise in New Brunswick. 

 

Elijah's Promise began in 1989, and has been helping low-income people in the central New Jersey community.  They coordinate nutritious meals, social services and health screenings.  They also have a culinary arts job-training program and entrepreneurial training program with their own catering business.  The staff and children at MacAfee will be bringing their collected hygiene items along with the new gloves, mittens, hats and scarves. 

 

For the second year in a row, the third grade classes have also organized a Holiday Pet Products Drive to benefit a local organization called Rawhide Rescue.  They collected pet products such as food, pet beds, blankets, treats/bones, etc.  A representative from the rescue organization will be speaking with the third graders, giving them information on the rescue process and how the animals are adopted.

 

“It is so encouraging to watch the children bring in the items for the tree”, says Janet Flissar, Secretary at MacAfee and co-founder of the “Giving Tree” 6 years ago with Mr. Gerald Rosen, Principal. "This has been a MacAfee Family Tradition for the past 6 years and it shows the kind of support we receive from our students, their families and the staff.  The "Giving Tree" fosters relationships not only in our school community, but the township community as well."

 

Mrs. Truempy, third grade teacher at MacAfee and originator of the Holiday Pet Products Drive at the school, stated “Having the children give gifts to pet shelters is another way they can help those in need.  I adopted my dog through this rescue shelter and realized it would be a good way for the kids to become involved in giving during the holiday’s”. 

 

Other Township Public Schools received donations for charities as well.  Sampson G. Smith Middle School had Toys for Tots drive and all the schools were involved in a Food Drive for the Franklin Township Food Bank.

 

For further information regarding Elijah’s Promise Shelter in New Brunswick, you can call 732-545-9002, e-mail at promise@infoline.net or visit their website at www.elijahspromise.org.  For further information regarding Rawhide Rescue visit their website at www.rawhiderescue.petfinder.org or call 908-561-8056.  For further information regarding the school programs, call Ann McCall, Public Information Coordinator, 732-873-2400 Ext 290, or visit the Board of Education Website at www.franklinboe.org