Northern Lebanon Elementary School introduced community-funded “care carts” for students that include daily necessities to help students focus on their education.
They were organized by Mardelle Bouchette, a fourth-grade teacher who offered a care cart to her class last school year after seeing other teachers online offering similar assistance. She said she got positive feedback from her students and fellow teachers, so she decided to expand it to the entire K-6 school.
The carts are stocked with tissues, bandages, lip balm, toothbrushes, hair ties, combs and more.
Bouchette said the carts allow for daily needs to be met so education is the focus. Even if the items are relatively small, they can have a big effect on a child’s day.
Last year, she said she had a student who approached her and covered his mouth while he spoke because he forgot to brush his teeth that morning. Bouchette was able to immediately give him a toothbrush with toothpaste in the bristles from the care cart.
“A kiddo like that probably would have sat through the day all day thinking about, ‘Oh my gosh, is someone going to notice?’ and wouldn’t have been able to focus as much,” she said. “It’s going to be able to take that worry away and get them back to learning because if they are worried about their basic needs, there’s no way they’re going to be able to learn about the necessities of math or reading.”
Bouchette said she went to DonorsChoose – an organization where teachers post ideas they want funding for, and corporations and community members contribute – and requested help to buy the $50 rolling carts.
Then she went to the parent-teacher organization, which shared a link to help buy supplies. Each cart cost about $250 to fill.
Weatherholtz Remodeling, Nicky’s Pampered Pooch, Jamie’s Notary, Swoyer’s Paint and Wallpaper, Mane Street Junction, KDS Mechanical and real estate agent Amanda Showers were the businesses that donated.
Students have to ask their teacher for permission before taking anything, or teachers can offer items if they see a need.
Before rolling the supplies to their new homes in each grade level’s hallway, Bouchette gave presentations to the classes and teachers about what’s in them and how they work.
“There’s a lot of love inside of them,” she said to her audience in the cafeteria.
She emphasized wants vs. needs. Students should only take from the cart if they need something, or the supplies won’t be available for them or their friends later on.
And the resources are available no matter a child’s family’s financial situation — sometimes families are in a rush in the morning, kids forget something or a need arises while they’re at school.
There are extra supplies for when some items in the carts run low, but Bouchette said she’s hoping for continued community support to keep them running.
According to last year’s pilot cart, the supplies that are used when students have colds tend to go the fastest, like tissues and hand sanitizer.
She put together an Amazon wishlist where anyone can buy items to help restock, and she said she’s expecting to need a fundraising push over the summer.
“I was beyond touched how quickly people reach out,” Bouchette said. “I was beyond thrilled. I was humbled that our community came together for our kids as quickly as they did and they deserve to be celebrated.”
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