Springfield City Schools undertook a challenging project this summer, raising support for a back-to-school giveaway of school supplies and student accessories for all 7,200 of its students. The school district requested help with funding a very important item, water bottles. The appeal was made through the new CarePortal program that virtually connects local churches and Christian non-profits to families of children with emergency needs.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton is a new CarePortal partner. Habitat sent out some feeler requests to loyal sponsors, and these community-focused organizations responded by helping to fund 1,728 of the 7,200 water bottles needed.
Water bottles were delivered last week, just in time to get them into the back-to-school packets. This was thanks to the following Habitat sponsors: The UPS Store, The Far From Famous Foundation, The Carpenter Group (of realtors), Conroy Funeral Home, and Park National Bank.
The school district was ecstatic about the donation.
“This has been the best partnership I have ever seen,” said Springfield City Schools Family Outreach Connections Specialist Marcie Hobson. “When churches, community organizations, nonprofits and school districts put the child first, the outcome is greater than anything we could ever imagine.
“The future generations will not always remember everything we teach them, but they will remember the compassion that was given to them at a time of need,” she continued. “Springfield needs compassion more than ever, and we will forever be grateful to the many who have donated their time and funds to aid our students.”
CarePortal Greater Dayton Regional Director Aaron Earlywine was equally grateful for the partnership with Habitat and its community partners.
“I am absolutely blown away about watching this community come together to support children,” he said. “The goal of CarePortal is to make known the needs of children within our community. We count on, and our so grateful for partnerships like that of Habitat, who hear the need and respond. A big thank you to all of those helped make this happen.”
In its first year of operation in Clark County, CarePortal members donated over $35,000 of economic aid to 395 kids and families, meeting nearly 91 percent of all requests.
If you’d like to join our team of loyal Habitat sponsors, just go to daytonhabitat.org or call 937-586-0860. More info on CarePortal can be found at careportal.org.
