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Local thrift store offers vouchers and food pantry; teachers’ union reports membership growth
Summary
During public comments, Linda Lafontaine of Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store described voucher and food pantry services; Matt Wagner, vice president of the Franklin County Education Association, updated the board on member outreach and a goal to place building representatives at every site.
Two public commenters at the Sept. 8 Franklin County Schools board meeting highlighted community resources and union outreach.
Linda Lafontaine, who runs the Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store at 315 Wallace Avenue, asked the board to refer families who need clothing and household necessities to her thrift store. She said the store issues vouchers for families in need, operates a food pantry on Tuesdays and Saturdays and is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lafontaine told the board, “If a child doesn't have food to eat, they don't have, clothes to wear, they're not gonna wanna be at school,” and asked staff to refer families to the store’s resource information.
Matt Wagner, vice president of the Franklin County Education Association and a classroom teacher, provided a union update for teachers. Wagner said the association has seen positive momentum in membership and outreach since the beginning of the school year. He described a recent member appreciation effort and said the association’s current goal is “to get a building rep in the building, by the October, in every site.” Wagner said the union is working to recruit building representatives to improve communication between teachers and the district.
Both comments were delivered during the public comment portion of the meeting and were received for the record; no board action was taken.
