Even though we think of public education as being free, there are books, supplies, and meals that students need to fund. If a family has a number of children, those expenses can add up fast. At Eastern Pulaski schools, Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman says a Helping Hands program has been established to help those children whose families find it difficult to fund their needs.
“It came around really around Christmastime when you kept hearing about gift certificates to give for Christmas,” said Dr. Klitzman. “We came up with the idea where maybe some of our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, would want to give gift certificates to some of our students for lunches and textbook rental as they need it. That’s where our Helping Hands program evolved.”
Even organizations provide funding for the Helping Hands program.
“We got a really nice donation from the Ladies of Charity from our St. Peter’s church in Winamac. They gave us $200 and most of the donations are like this but made anonymously. $200 is donated to help the kids with the greatest need. That’s a very nice thing and we appreciate their thoughtfulness. The Helping Hands program is strictly from patrons who have soft spot in their heart to help some kids go straight to their meals or textbooks and nothing else.”
