By DONNA FARLEY
Associate Editor
P
oplar Bluff schools took time Friday morning to thank the community that has supported their Bright Futures program.
The annual Breakfast of Champions was held at the Holiday Inn Ballroom.
Bright Futures is a nonprofit run by school social workers to pair community partners with the needs of students. It has operated in the R-I district since 2014, inspired by an organization based in Joplin.
Among those recognized Friday was parent and local attorney Rebecca Hester, said Carrie Booker, Bright Futures co-coordinator and school social worker.
A parent of two middle school students, Hester hosts an event each year that raises money for Bright Futures, said Booker. Hester provides a local location for area attorneys to receive necessary continuing education, donating the fees paid by those attorneys to the program.
"She creatively found a way to make an ordinary event a benefit to our kids," Booker said.
Cash donations are used primarily to help with individual student needs, like a high school student that needed clothing to accommodate a cast on a broken leg, a family in need of a water heater or the purchase of caps and gowns for students at graduation, Booker said.
Bright Futures volunteers also support efforts like the Spread the Love/PB for PB event that collected 3,200 jars of peanut butter for the MulePack weekend backpack program.
The Undie Sundie collected 800 pairs of underwear for school nurses to distribute.
A Pass the Pride drive gathered Mules clothing for students who did not have any, Booker said, and Share the Warmth collects heavy winter clothing for students.
The district is in the midst of collecting warm clothing now, she said. Items can be dropped off at any school office, and can include sweaters, sweatpants, jackets and coats.
Also recognized during the event were: Christy Frazier Moore for her efforts with a mentoring program for junior high girls; Poplar Bluff Realty, which helps at many of the schools, including at Oak Grove, assisting with Red Ribbon week and other events; Dave Stewart of United Methodist Church, which provides reading buddies at Lake Road; and Melanie Hemann, who participates with the Lunch Buddy program.