by Mary Loden
It is nearing that time again when the Clear Lake School District will partner with the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce for the annual school supply drive and fundraiser for the school’s Kids and Families in Need account.
During the last “Thursdays on Main” on Aug. 17, the Chamber will bring out the Dunk Tank, and for a $1- per-ball, kids and community members, can try their hand at dunking familiar faces. “I try to get coaches, music, speech, administrators and anybody that wants to promote their program, or even the people [the kids] connect with over the summer,” said Sarah Puttmann, Clear Lake Community School District School Counselor.
In addition to the Dunk Tank, “I’ll be there with some of my other counseling co-workers and we’ll have a table [in front of the VFW] for the community to bring school supplies or donations of money,” Puttmann said. All the money raised goes into the Kids and Families in Need account at Clear Lake Bank and Trust, to be used throughout the year.
Puttmann said the Kids and Families in Need account has been around for over 15 years and she has overseen it for the past eight years. As a school counselor she said she primarily works with “at risk” families or families that may just need a little more assistance. Some may be going through a hard time, have an emergency situation or are looking for work.
“We partner with community organizations and churches to provide for those families [in the way of] food cards or gas cards if they have to take their children to Iowa City for an appointment or if they are job seeking,” she explained. They are also set up to help families who have lost everything in a house fire by helping them find a place to live and even paying a portion for rent assistance.
Puttmann said, “ My role with the school really is like a community liaison. Partnering with the churches, the Chamber, with Share Life, non profit organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club etc. I just love that part of my job. It really does bridge the gap between school and community and families in need.”
While the Share Life Kids Cafe (not school affiliated) provides weekly groceries during the summer months and school breaks to families whose children qualify for Free and Reduced lunches, the school itself has the “Back Pack Buddies” program. Puttmann said. “It is a sack that goes home with a kid who may not have a lot of food at home. It’s filled with things like fruit or pudding cups, jello or peanut butter, snack bars, so they at least have something over the weekend.”
The Clear Lake Community School District partners with Share Life on their Share Shop, a winter outerwear drive that takes place in October. Puttmann said both the school district and Share Life are affiliated with the Inter Faith Community Alliance (IFCA,) a group of church leaders and community members focusing on the same mission. She said they attend meetings every month to discuss community issues and how they can work together as a community to help those in need.
“I have to say that Clear Lake has a fantastic community that looks out for each other and supports each other,” Puttmann said. “People truly care and they want to help out, whether it be donations or getting involved and participating. It’s a great community to be a part of.”
Puttmann said their biggest concern and focus – meaning the school, churches, organizations, etc. – is to provide basic needs for children in financially challenged families, so that they can learn. Because children who are hungry, tired, sick or cold can’t learn if they are worried about other things. “So we step in and want to provide those things,” she said.
“I always tell people I see our role as giving a hand up – not a hand out. We don’t want it to be a band-aid,” Puttmann said. “But sometimes people just need a hand up and know that if they are able and capable they will pay it forward.”
