For the past 4 years, the PTA at Oak Hill Elementary has organized a really neat way to give their teachers some free time.It's called “Wildcats Give Back” day, and while the teachers are enjoying the gift of time this holiday season, all Wildcats will be engaging in projects to benefit our community.

We stopped by to chat about this event with Kindergarten Teacher, Lori Herron, 3rd Grade Teacher, Sherri Stafford and Kristen Cirino, with the PTA. We also heard from some of the students, and how good it feels to give back to the community.

Here are some of the organizations that the students will be giving back to:

K-6th grade all will have the opportunity to make a festive placemat for those in need of a hot meal at United Caring Services. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served at their day shelter - and dinner also is served at Ruth’s House. United Caring Services provides shelter, meals, and medical respite to those in need. They assist 150 people each day in their shelter.
Grades K-2 will also be making holiday cards to share with some special people this season. These cards will go to Meals on Wheels and patients at Riley Hospital for Children. They will bring cheer to the elderly, sick, and mentally or physically handicapped members of our larger community.
Grades 3-4 will be participating in the The Magic Wand Project to benefit children in foster care who are supported by Vanderburgh County CASA. CASA is an agency made up of volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children in our community so that each one may have a safe and permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. We will also be sharing these wands with patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. These magic wands will spread kindness, joy, and love to their recipients.
Grades 5-6 will participate in a fleece blanket project to benefit Ark Crisis Child Care Center. Ark is a safe place where moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, and all kinds of caregivers can bring their kiddos while they go take care of things. Those things can be: looking for a job, looking for a safe place to live, looking for a daycare for the kiddo, fixing a mistake they may have made or many, many other things. When the kiddos are at Ark they get warm meals, playtime, and lots of hugs and love from their teachers. Some of the kiddos may not come from the best home and may not have a safe place to play and sleep and eat but when they are at Ark Crisis Child Care Center, they will have safety and lots of love. The blankets that are made will help the kiddos feel safe and warm during their nap time at Ark.The students are helping to make more than 1,400 children feel safe, and that should make you smile!

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