By Collin Brooks
The Johnson City Kiwanis Club linked up with students at Ashley Academy for a twist in their holiday PJs and sock drive. The students from Ashley Academy helped to pack care packages, which included hygiene items and a stuffed animal or coloring book, to give to children that require the items in the Johnson City School System..
Bonnie White, the Homeless Education Coordinator for the Johnson City School System, said that they are able to help about 600 kids during the year and having a local school share in their efforts was great.
“To get these kids to understand that there are kids just like them in need in the community, makes it all that much more special when we are giving these out,” White said. “Our kids are thrilled with anything that we give them, but socks and pajamas are a great way to do stocking stuffers or presents.
“Because a lot of our kids that is just something that they don’t have.”
The Johnson City Kiwanis Club was able to collect PJs and socks from people that donated them outside of TJ Maxx in Johnson City, but the extra help from the Ashley Academy students was an added bonus, according to Johnson City Kiwanis Club President Tara Fenner.
“Because Kiwanis deals so much with helping children, it’s great to see the children helping the children and getting them involved in the whole process,” Fenner said. “It’s good for them to see that there are kids their age that don’t have the same luxuries and benefits that they do in life and that what they do is helping someone just like them.”
Donations for the Kiwanis club are taken year-round, and can be made to Johnson City Kiwanis, PO Box 4521, Johnson City, TN 37604. Their website is at jckiwanis.org or they can be found on Facebook at JC Kiwanis.
Ashley Academy students packed care packages before donating them to the Johnson City School System.
Photos by Collin Brooks
