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Kutztown seniors present community projects: food drive, hospital activity kits and NICU blankets
Summary
High-school seniors in Kutztown Area SD presented senior seminar capstone projects including a Helping Harvest food drive with an online donation option, activity kits for Lehigh Valley Hospital pediatric patients, and a community crochet effort to donate blankets to the NICU. Board members discussed small seed funding and publicity support.
Several Kutztown Area School District seniors described community-focused capstone projects at the committee’s Dec. 8 Policy & Curriculum meeting.
Caden, a senior and member of a student team, said his group partnered with Helping Harvest to run a food drive and created a website for online donations. "Instead of going to the store and bringing stuff in, you have the option to just scan that and you can donate directly from there," Caden said, explaining the QR-code flyer and a "donate for donuts" incentive to boost participation.
Hannah, another senior presenter, described a plan with a classmate to assemble activity bags for children at Lehigh Valley Hospital, saying the team is exploring donations or in-kind support from local businesses to assemble kits.
Sharon White said her group is collecting crocheted "granny squares" from community volunteers to assemble baby blankets for the NICU. "We're estimating about 100 to 200 [squares] and then 30 per blanket," White told the committee and passed sample squares to members.
Board members and staff praised the projects and discussed practical support options. One committee member suggested microgrants or a small seed fund so students could cover modest start-up costs for materials; staff noted the education foundation or a limited microloan model as possible mechanisms to provide seed funding while encouraging student ownership. Members also recommended using the district newsletter and Cougar Prints to publicize projects and locate community partners and donation sites.
The students said they will continue outreach to local partners (Helping Harvest and Main Street businesses were cited) and will provide follow-up information to the board on fundraising outcomes and any seed-funding requests. The presenters were invited to share unique data requested by board members, such as volunteer locations and projected budgets, before the full board meeting.
