Helping students in need

At a spring meeting, the city's Committee on Aging discussed the lack of available affordable housing affecting not only seniors, but the Two Rivers community as a whole. 

Kyle Korinek, director of learning and instruction with the Two Rivers Public School District, told the committee that 56 children had reported to the district that they were currently homeless. Korinek said the actual number of students considered homeless was believed to be about three times that number.

After the committee meeting, the issue remained a topic of conversation and concern among members of the Two Rivers Senior Center. The group proposed a school supply carnival. Center members, volunteers and staff, along with city staff, businesses and private citizens, pitched in to donate supplies. 

There was huge response to the event held at the Community House July 22; 120 students came to play games, win prizes, and eat popcorn. Every child received a new school bag containing needed school supplies for the upcoming year, and a lunch bag filled with nutritious snacks.

The Senior Center crew was not done. In partnership with school administrative staff, donors purchased sets of "first day of school" clothes for students in need. Sets included shirts, pants, shoes, socks and undergarments. 

In order to preserve confidentiality of the recipients, clothing was distributed by school social workers.