As we celebrate the holiday season, we wish to extend our thanks to everyone in the community who has supported our school and students during this special time of year. Your help with school programs and projects, presence at extra-curricular activities and support of our staff and students is a tremendous gift to all of us. I would like to say a special thanks to the “Secret Santas” who stepped forward to provide gifts to some of our families this Christmas.
The holiday season reminds us more than ever that we have students and families in need in our community. Our school tries to help fill the needs of our students with programs such as the Backpack Program and the Winter Clothing Fund.
The Winter Clothing Fund helps to provide winter outerwear for students who may be in need. As I write this, it is currently -6 degrees outside! Proper winter gear is not just a convenience for our students, it’s a necessity in our neck of the woods. We help to provide winter coats, boots, snow pants, hats and gloves for students in preschool – grade 12 who have a need.
The Backpack Program is a weekend food program that is currently serving 43 elementary aged students in our school. This program is offered to all of our students in grades Jr. Kindergarten – 6th Grade. The goal is to help reduce childhood hunger during the weekends when school breakfast and lunch programs are not available. The weekend food packages contain 2 breakfast items, 2 lunch items, 2 fruit items, 2 boxes of 100% juice, and 2 snacks. We aim to provide foods that are shelf-stable and easy for younger children to prepare. Food packages cost approximately $6 - $7 per package each week. Recent increases in food prices have impacted this program.
The Backpack Program and Winter Clothing Fund are both funded through grants and generous community donations. If you would like to donate to one of these programs, you may contact Nikki Cheskie at 507-836-6450 ext. 5130. Checks can also be made out to ISD # 2169 and mailed to MCC Elementary School, Attn: Nikki Cheskie at 2640 Forest Ave. Slayton, MN 56172. Please indicate which program you would like to support with your donation.
Wishing you Holiday Blessings from the MCC staff and students!
Nikki Cheskie – MCC Elementary Mental Health Coordinator