Highland Elementary School will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items and gift cards from Hugo’s, Walmart, local restaurants, and cash cards for families in need during the school closure. Tara Rodriquez and Jessica Shockman, family service specialists at Highland, are coordinating the collection effort.
Rodriquez said that collecting food and gift cards for the family needs is an easy way the school can help families that need support. “We know that whenever kids and families are home for an extended period, that’s often a worry that families have, and it’s something that’s fairly easy to help with,” said Rodriguez. “I know that Anna Ogaard-Brekken and the foodservice ladies are working super hard on a food service plan that is going to roll out on Monday. But there is still going to be some extra time at home together before that kicks in and some unknowns of people’s work situations. It’s a small way that, hopefully, we can offer some support.”
The school would like to attempt to follow social distancing guidelines as much as possible. So, they will collect food on a cart inside the entryway and ask that you only come to the office if you are dropping off a gift card, or some other non-food item for collection. “If people would be willing to drop off non-perishable food items here at Highland, there is going to be a cart in the front entryway by door number six,” said Shockman. “Or we are also taking any type of food cards, so Walmart cards, gift certificates to Happy Joe’s, restaurants in town, Domino’s, Subway, whatever it is you prefer. You can bring those right into the desk but leave the food in the entryway.”
Rodriguez said the collection would be ongoing through the current school closure and any subsequent closure of schools. “I think it will be an ongoing thing,” said Rodriguez. “The Crookston community is super generous, so we partly started to collect this because so many people have reached out to Jessica and I about what we can do. So, some of the reason for supporting families in this way has really come from the Crookston community wanting to support families struggling.”
Both Rodriguez and Shockman will be working from the school as much as possible during any closure and will be available to assist families with a variety of needs explained Shockman. “Tara and I will be working at the school as much as we can be here during the closing time,” said Shockman. “We’d just like anybody struggling, who has questions, or need any support whether that’s getting good you might need or any way we can assist with mental health services, we encourage you to reach out directly to us at school.”
If you are concerned at all about getting through this time at home with your family, please contact Tara Rodriguez 701-740-4473 or Jessica Shockman 218-289-7023.
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