RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Every student deserves an equitable opportunity to succeed in school and in life.
L&S Toyota, Wing 2 Wing Foundation, and the Pack Family Foundation wanted to ensure that was possible by providing $1,500 to each West Virginia public school this year.
Those funds will allow them to provide essential needs for children through Communities in Schools virtual pantries.
“We get to see firsthand what this money does,” Shawn Ball said. “I really believe these kids need to be in school, if not just to learn, but to also have a safe place to go.”
These charitable funds can be transformative for students.
“There are some less fortunate kids who can’t have everything that everybody else has,” said Woodrow Wilson High School Senior Djahnae Jackson.” The fact that they can come to school and have a safe place and be able to get things they can’t get from home here means a lot, to know they have people.”
We’re trying to create the best environment we can for our children to grow, thrive, remain in the Mountain State, and build their own families.
“From a public policy standpoint, that’s what I work on all the time. And from a charitable standpoint, how can we help our students? And also, how can we help our young families?” State Treasurer of West Virginia Larry Pack said. “Sometimes someone’s lost a job or they’ve got an addiction. They just need a little help, a little hand. It hurts these parents when they can’t provide for their children. So we’re helping the parents as much as we are the children.”
To feel supported and encouraged in school is meaningful.
“It’s really important because it’s like I want everyone in the whole world to be helped and get the same accomplishments that everybody’s been getting,” said Glen Fork Elementary and Middle School Student Triston McMillon.
Ball grew up in the Boone County coalfields. He says he had a good childhood but saw a lot.
“When you think about some of the kids and how they grew up, it’s just like that one thing,” he said. “What’s that one thing that could change their lives? And that’s why we have this Be Present theme throughout this thing.”
