STILLMAN VALLEY – At the beginning of October, first grader Charlotte Neeld brought an idea to her principal at Highland Elementary.
With the cold weather coming, she had been saving money to buy winter clothes for those in need. It was this idea that helped start a clothing drive at Highland Elementary School. Through the month of October staff, students, and families brought in winter clothes for adults and children. Neeld even made her own posters and flyers that were hung around the school.
“As a Leader in Me School, this was a great opportunity for us to be able to support a leadership opportunity that was initiated by a student,” said Joe Mullikin, principal at Highland Elementary.
Mullikin also wanted to thank Mrs. Nicole King for helping to push Charlotte to come down and share the idea in the first place.
At the end of October, Neeld was able to collect all that had been brought in and donate it to Carpenter’s Place Family Services progam in Rockford. Neeld took dozens of coats, gloves, scarves and other clothing items to help support the family services programs at Carpenter’s Place.
Shan Johnson, director of Family Services, staid that she appreciated that the family was all able to come up and give out of the fullness of her heart.
“If there is anything that she could say to inspire others, it is to really reach into the fullness of their hearts to give and it is clear that Charlotte’s heart is full,” she said
Highland and the Meridian school district is proud to have such great leaders like Neeld and to support our community as a whole.
While this donation makes a big impact, Carpenter’s Place and many other programs in the general region still need support to help those in need. For information about how you can give and some of the critical needs that Carpenter’s Place has, please visit http://www.carpentersplace.org/donations/critical-needs-list.
