LAKELAND FL. – The Reopen Lakeland Task Force and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce have partnered with Love Lakeland, a 501(c)3 organization, is seeking community support through an initiative to support forty-one Lakeland-area public schools.
The initiative, Adopt A School¸ calls for financial support from the community in an effort to ensure students, staff, and faculty remain safe and healthy in the 2020-2021 academic year and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd identified the top health-related needs essential to carrying students and school personnel through the year, and for which the taskforce is seeking community support.
Items requested include:
- Disposable masks
- Hand sanitizers
- Kleenex tissues
- Disinfectant wipes
- Gloves
- Contactless thermometers
- Antibacterial soap
- Plexiglas barriers,
- Computer wipes
Mayor Bill Mutz, chair of the taskforce, stated, “This program provides the opportunity to support Lakeland’s students with their most critical needs during this tightly-constrained budget period. This is a perfect way for businesses or individuals who have a passion for education and a heart for students to make a difference in our school communities.”
Craig Collins, the facilitator of the Reopen Lakeland Taskforce, stated “Our goal is to raise at least $5,000 for every school. Schools with larger populations of students, such as high schools, will need additional support beyond the $5,000. That shared, we want to make sure our Title I schools are supported. As such, contributions to the general fund will allow us to ensure equability.”
At present, even prior to the official launch, the initiative already has two school-specific contributions for $5,000 each. “Supporting this initiative is important to our company because we want all families with students attending Polk Schools to be protected and feel safe while learning,” said Chris McLaughlin, owner of KW Smart. “I encourage other companies in Lakeland to help wherever they can,” he added.
In addition to financial contributions, other ways to assist the initiative include the direct purchase of supplies or assisting in dropping off supplies.
Visit LoveLakeland.com to obtain more information concerning how to participate. All contributions are tax-deductible.