KPS community comes together for holiday giving project

A decades-long giving tradition has helped make the holiday season brighter for Kingsford Park Elementary School families, and this year will be no exception.
The holiday giving project, which began more than 30 years ago, has evolved over the years and is still going strong today.  Hundreds of families have benefited from the initiative since its inception, as donations roll in from students, staff and local businesses.
The giving effort launched this year in September, when Constellation Corp. reached out to KPS to request sizes needed for coat donations. The following month, the KPS Student Council held a Givetober fundraiser, collecting socks and personal hygiene items. Students celebrated their collection efforts by pieing their principal and a teacher during an assembly.
“Our students and staff always step up when it’s needed, and this year they came through in a big way,” said KPS Student Council advisor Kristyn Frost. “I’m so proud of our KPS community for their selflessness and compassion.”
In addition to the September and October fundraisers, KPS held a food drive in November. All the food will be boxed and given to families in need. This month, staff and students will shop for toys and other items families may need to brighten their holidays.
“We have a really great team of faculty and staff that come together to support our children in our school by giving their free time as well as shopping for these families in need,” said KPS teacher Carolyn Slobodian. “We have retiree donations and community donations … and our own faculty and staff will take a tag off our tree to shop for these kiddos we love and want to support.”
After all the fundraisers have wrapped up, families in need will receive a box of food, clothing items, toys, a warm coat, and even new boots or shoes as available.
“We could not do this without the wonderful support from the community, retirees and faculty/staff,” Slobodian said. “It certainly takes a village. We want what is best for our families and students who we serve each and every day.”