Over the past few weeks, Dallas ISD Operations Division employees – bus drivers, cafeteria and maintenance staff, and janitors – have been running a fundraiser to collect items for homeless students.
Items ranging from face washes, hand sanitisers, hair products and cosmetic bags to coloring books, magazines, socks, gloves, scarves and even earphones and cable protectors have been donated at seven service centers and operational facilities.
“Our emergency service people are incredibly generous, the really least cash in the district, but donations to help those in need, especially during the holidays. It just shows how big their hearts are, ”said Jaime Sandoval, executive director of Student Transportation Services.
The entire operation – over 1,000 employees in the transportation services – as well as the food and child nutrition service were involved in the effort, Sandoval said. The trip lasted from November 15th to December 10th.
“This has been a great opportunity for us to help those who are often forgotten,” said Deno Harris, assistant director of operations. “We are a big organization with an even bigger heart.”
Sandoval, who formerly ran the district’s homeless education program, says the need never goes away.
“We know that there are more than 3,000 students in the Dallas ISD who are considered homeless, and there is always a way to help that population. People in school transportation have been doing this for the past few years – it’s nothing new to them. You have always been very generous with our students. “
But this year’s effort is even greater, he said. “This was the first time that it was organized by the entire Operation Services. In the past we had a service center that made donations for the Ed Homeless Department. This time we have four service centers in the Student Transportation Services area, in addition to Fleet Services, Turney Leonard Training Center and Maria Luna Food Services. “This is the first time that we have brought everything together under one roof.”
The donations will be distributed to the students this week.
[ad_1]
Frontline workers lend a hand, gather goods for homeless students
