Lesli Fletcher, a
social worker student at Pittsburg State University, has asked the
Rich Hill FCCLA to take part in her project, “Keeping Children
Warm.” This is the time of year in which FCCLA students start their
STAR events. Kendra Larimore, FCCLA Rich Hill High School vice
president, was happy to participate in Lesli’s project. Kendra
shares an equal passion for our local foster children. She stated, “I
love what she’s doing and it hits close to home. I have aunts who
are foster parents.” Lesli encouraged Kendra, when she brought an
ornamented box to Mrs. Popplewell, the advisor of Rich Hill FCCLA, so
FCCLA could help her collect donations. Kendra became very proactive
in creating ways to assemble donations. She did this by placing an
additional box in the nurse’s office, writing letters and handing
them out to staff, giving letters to local elementary students to
take them home to their parents, and sending additional letters to
local churches.
In Missouri, there are over 10,000
children placed into foster care each year. Due to the lack of funds
available, some of these children do not always receive adequate
amounts of winter clothing. You can contribute by donating to this
project. There is a box in Mrs. Popplewell’s classroom and the
nurse’s office, located at Rich Hill High School. The clothing must
be new or gently used; no stains or holes. Enthusiastically, Kendra
stated, “I don’t see this as giving back to the community; I see
this as helping people when they need it. That’s what FCCLA is all
about, helping people, and I plan to help and get as many people
involved as possible.”
