News

Norwin School District extra-curricular programs offer more than a time for students to work on homework and do activities.

One program at Sunset Valley Elementary -- the Safeguard Program run by Creative Adventures Learning Center -- is directed by Diane Spirer. Participating students have been collecting items to send to soldiers stationed overseas.

Now in its sixth year, Spirer has orchestrated "Operation Clean Team" in which the students collect an array of trial-size personal hygiene products that are shipped to Afghanistan.

"I started this six years ago when I saw an article about soldiers who did not have toothbrushes," Spirer said. "I found an address to send them (toothbrushes) to, and we collected them for two years in a row."

Spirer explained that after two years, one of the parents from the elementary school was deployed, so she arranged to have hygiene items sent to him.

The students have set up boxes in all the district elementary school and middle school buildings every March. Working together, the students who attend the program, who range from kindergarten to fourth grade, gather the items, separate them and bag them for mailing.

The program has grown in interest over the years.

"The first year we mailed four boxes and last year we mailed 22," Spirer said. "The kids really enjoy doing this."

The items will be collected through next Friday and Spirer hopes that parents and other groups or organizations will contribute.

"One year, we had the Girl Scouts contact us and they added 12 cases of Girl Scout cookies for us to mail," Spirer said

In addition to gathered items which include trial sizes of soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes and wash cloths, the students also make greeting cards and send letters.

When not collecting for items to send to troops, the students concentrate their efforts on local veterans, making cards and sending letters to veterans in local hospitals. They also send greeting cards to children who are hospitalized.

"We have received some wonderful thank you cards from people who are so grateful for what they do," Spirer said.

Spirer and her group will package everything collected and mail it out at the end of March. She is pleased with the message that this project sends the children every year.

"I want them to learn to give back to the community and to remember that these men and women are fighting for their freedom," Spirer said. "And they should never forget the less fortunate such as the veterans in Pittsburgh. It's important to be remembered and it's important for those veterans and others less fortunate to know that someone cares."

Items for collection can be dropped off at any Norwin elementary or middle school. Monetary donations can be arranged by contacting Spirer at inspireru@gmail.com

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News