Packs4LH volunteers deliver food to families at Thurgood Marshall Elementary

In 2017, 100 Women of Lake Highlands created Packs4LH – a simple but brilliant plan to send every Skyview Elementary student home for Thanksgiving break with a bag packed full of healthy, non-perishable food to share with his or her family. With organizational and financial support from the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands and Knights of Columbus, the project was a huge success, and the groups duplicated their efforts at Aikin and Thurgood Marshall Elementaries, providing more than 2,311 Thanksgiving meals over three years.

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This year’s focus is Forest Lane Academy, where poverty in the homes of 91% of students qualify them for free or reduced lunch. More than 720 kids attend Forest Lane, and the 663 of those living at or below the poverty level depend on breakfast or lunch provided at the school daily. If additional funds are raised, backpacks will be furnished to Stults Road Elementary, where the need is equally great.

There are several ways you can help.

Your online donation of $45 will purchase a backpack full of food for the Thanksgiving holiday. On Nov. 19 from 6-10 p.m., you may join volunteers to stuff backpacks at the Knights of Columbus. The next day, you can help volunteers deliver backpacks at Forest Lane (and possibly Stults Road) and see the faces of children who will benefit.

Author

  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.