For over 20 years, the CARE (Children at Risk in Education) Angel Project of the Fayette County Public School System has assisted hundreds of financially challenged students and their families by providing basic need items and services, enabling students to feel connected to school and focused on their academics instead of worrying about how the day-to-day needs of their families are going to be met.
CARE assists students throughout the school year, but a special focus is placed on the program during the holidays with the CARE Angel Project through which school counselors identify students who are in need and recommend their inclusion. To be included, students must qualify for free/reduced lunch and their parents or guardians have to be employed or actively seeking employment.
Angel requests are mostly for non-traditional, needs-based items such as toiletries, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, bedding, pots and pans, hearing aid batteries, eyeglasses, dental services, car tires, utility bill payments, and roof repairs. More traditional items such as clothing, coats, socks, under garments, bicycles, and toys for younger students are also requested.
This year another layer of giving has been added to the CARE Angel Project, assistance for first generation college students. These angels must meet the same inclusion requirements plus prove that they have been accepted to a college or university, and that they are on track to graduate at the end of this school year. As with regular angels, students are recommended by their school counselors.
Items for these angels include necessities for college dorms and academic study such as desk lamps, dry erase boards, power strips, desk organizers, extra-large twin size sheets, collapsible pots and pans, shower caddies with hygiene items, copy paper, pens and pencils, notebook dividers, markers, and gift cards for any miscellaneous items or other special needs.
The community can help all angels included in the CARE Angel Project by adopting an angel or donating items. Both can be done at the LaFayette Educational Center, 205 LaFayette Avenue in Fayetteville, Building B, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through December 12. Items must be unwrapped or in gift bags. Donations will be distributed to students and their families the last week of school before the semester break.
