Plank’s SOS Committee Providing TLC to Those in Need

Members of the Home and School Association are sending out an SOS.

But in this case, it’s not them asking for help, it’s them giving out help through their newly formed Serving Others Selflessly committee.

“When one of our families at Plank has a need such as no food, clothing, or in this case, gifts for Christmas, we have families and staff at Plank that donate items to fill the need,” said committee chair Becky Menter.

She began the same type of program a few years ago at , which is called Providing Assistance With a Smile.

“When my daughter started going to Plank I started the committee this year there,” she said.

Currently, about 75 families make up Plank’s SOS e-mail list.

“Then when we get a family that has a need, I send out a request and families on my list donates items,” Menter said.

At Long Beach, Menter said help provided by the PAWS committee included making meals for a staff member whose parent passed away, and for the family of a student whose dad became paralyzed through an accident. Members also provided clothing and bedding for a Long Beach family that took in a foster child.

The program still continues at Long Beach.

Plank principal Bryan Buck said the SOS committee has helped to many several students in need.

“We have homeless students, we have students in shelters, we have students whose parents have been out of work for a year and are having trouble getting gas in the car and buying groceries,” he said.

To help those families, SOS members collected gift cards for groceries and other items.

“We give them to the school social workers and keep them on hand so if they come across a student who doesn’t have a coat when the weather changes, they have gift cards to fulfill those needs,” Menter said.

Recently, SOS members asked for donations such as clothing, boots, toys, coats, hats, gloves and food to fulfill the requests of two families who would have gone without this holiday season.

“It goes year-round, but obviously we see a lot more need at Christmas,” Menter said. “It just depends on what the need is.”

She lauds the generosity of the parents, students and staff that step in to help others that are struggling within their schools.

“It is families helping families that makes these committees so remarkable,” she said.

Buck praises SOS members for their continuous help.

“It’s a great committee for sure,” he said.