Thanks to your generous support, a $521.31 grant to Cherokee Middle School’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter has created a powerful ripple effect of positive change. Led by teacher Amanda Sandell, these students transformed a modest grant into multiple impactful community service projects, developing invaluable leadership skills along the way. 
The students’ initiatives have addressed real-world needs across Springfield. They built and stocked a food pantry at Bingham Elementary, ensuring local families have access to essential resources. Their school-wide coat drive collected over 100 winter items for the PTSA clothing bank, providing warmth for fellow students.
But their impact didn’t stop there. The FCCLA members also stocked little libraries to promote literacy, mentored younger students on cultural awareness and etiquette, and launched a pop-can recycling program to foster environmental stewardship at their school.
Through these hands-on experiences, students learned about teamwork, empathy, and their own power to make a difference. As 8th-grade student and FCCLA Vice President Nymeria Ray shared, the projects taught her that, “no matter how young or old you are, you can always make an impact in your community.”
Your donation did more than just fund a project; it invested in our community’s future leaders. Thank you for making this incredible work possible!