- April 20, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Students from Sugar Mill Elementary donated 1,033 rolls of toilet paper to the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, which runs the Jerry Doliner Food Bank. That was part of the total of 5,000 rolls collected by the 40 schools in Volusia County, with more donations expected from charter schools in Flagler County, said Executive Director Gloria Max.
Max said that buying toiletries had become an expense that has been difficult for many families to afford. She added that she didn't truly realize how great of a need there was until around six years ago when a woman told her that her family had to use phone book pages when they couldn't afford toilet paper.
"We are paying it forward and teaching the students to do the same," Sugar Mill School Counselor Marie Bracciale said. "We want to help our their food bank any way we can."
The Jewish Federation has previously supported 81 schools, including Sugar Mill Elementary, based in Port Orange, by donating thousands of dollars in backpacks and supplies each year.
Sugar Mill students from the school's service learning organization, the Kiwanis K-Kids Club, ran the toilet paper drive.
The students' donations were also assisted by a $12,100 donation from Nancy and Lowell Lohman of Lohman Funeral Homes and a $12,000 donation from Gail Lemerand to go toward the Jerry Doliner Food Bank. The food bank feeds 24,000 people a year in Volusia and Flagler counties.
Max noted that she has seen an increase in the need for basic hygienic products, with people coming for help the day before Thanksgiving.
"Hurricane Irma did a lot of damage to people living paycheck to paycheck," Max said. "It's really sad. Everything is quite expensive."
Visit jewishfederationdaytona.org or call 672-0294. Donations can be made to the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, 470 Andalusia Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174. Donors are asked to write “matching grant” on the check.
