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Redeemer volunteers deliver school
supplies
to Govans Elementary.
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The Church of the Redeemer has been lending a helping hand to Govans Elementary since 2011, when Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton asked each parish in the Diocese to adopt a local school. Redeemer reached out to Principal Linda Taylor and the rest is history.
Each year Redeemer donates large quantities of school supplies and dozens of winter coats to Govans. In the past, volunteers have painted classrooms and bathrooms and helped with landscaping. Redeemer also supports the Govans annual Winter Fest and provides a number of tutors and classroom aides.
In early August, Redeemer volunteers continued to demonstrate their generous spirit through two outreach activities. Over the past few weeks and on August 7th, they helped with painting the school and touched up the "Reading Rainbow" mural in the main hallway.
On August 12th, they delivered a van-load of school supplies donated by parishioners including: 1,048 pencils, 630 dry erase markers, 221 composition books, 156 spiral notebooks, 115 boxes of Kleenex, 82 packages of notebook paper, 51 containers of hand sanitizer, 31 packages of disinfectant wipes and 17 pads of primary paper
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| Redeemer volunteers paint Govans Elementary. |
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"Everyone who volunteers tells me how enriching an experience it is. They love the school and they love the kids too," says Kathy LaPlant, Redeemer's Director of Children's Ministries, who has served as volunteer coordinator since 2015.
"It's a wonderful school. It feels like a family. Everyone knows the kids and loves them."
Tim and Lee Pierce have been tutoring students twice a week for five years.
Ms. Pierce says: "We do it because it is fun; we really see the kids progress; the teachers are grateful for the help; the office staff is supportive; we have built an emotional connection to the school; and we are given both guidance about what is needed and freedom to use our own approaches when we feel they are appropriate - like my abacus."
Redeemer's new Rector, Rev. David Ware, feels very strongly about expanding community involvement at Govans. Last school year he did some volunteer tutoring with younger students on his day off.
Outreach activities are not limited to Govans. Redeemer's outreach committee meets monthly and each member focuses on a different nonprofit organization such Habitat for Humanity, Paul's Place or GEDCO. Redeemer also awards grants to local organizations providing life-sustaining services such as food, fuel, shelter, jobs and education.
Rev. Cristina Paglinauan, Redeemer's Associate Rector, will be assuming responsibility for volunteer coordination as Ms. LaPlant transitions into her role as Director of Children's Ministries.
"Govans definitely has a very special place in the heart of this parish, says Ms. LaPlant. "You can't be here for very long and not hear about Govans."
Thank You
Govans Elementary and BCP would like to thank The Church of the Redeemer and all of the volunteers who have given so much to support Govans Elementary over the years.
Thank you also to everyone who helped with painting the school: Kathy LaPlant, Liz Pisano (who even brought along her friend Amy), David Pantle, Erin Hagar, Paul Smith, Hannah, Gordie, and Bernarda Kwaw and her daughters. Special thanks to Molly Hathaway and Townsend Kent for their detail work on the "Reading Rainbow" mural; to Grace Gary for all of her help organizing and painting; and to Jim Gary for all of his help hauling supplies to the school and back.
