A community service project connected to Jamestown Public Schools' "One District, One Book" initiative has resulted in hundreds of donated items that will support children and families across Chautauqua County. As part of this year's district-wide reading of James and the Giant Peach, students, staff, families, and community members from each JPS elementary school and Jefferson Middle School fifth graders collected a wide variety of items including toiletries, toys, books, craft supplies, journals, blankets, stuffed animals, and pajamas. Many of the donations were accompanied by handwritten messages of encouragement.
The donations were recently presented to Danielle Stone, a district parent and board member of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); and by Katie Meadows, a 1st-grade teacher at Bush Elementary School on behalf of the JPS "One District, One Book" steering committee. Items will help stock the Chautauqua Foster Closet, provide comfort items such as blankets and stuffed animals for CASA advocates to share with children, and support the creation of the Stone family's "Foster Fun Bags" that will be distributed to youth in care throughout Chautauqua County later this year.
Photo by Jamestown Public Schools
