About 24 students at Montessori Mastery School of Odessa made a big difference in the lives of homeless families Tuesday by presenting $1,071.20 to Family Promise — all in dimes.
Family Promise helps families experiencing homelessness by providing meals, shelter, transportation and referrals to local social services, said Kara Evenson-Dorethy, executive director for Family Promise of Odessa.
One of those present Tuesday for the presentation were Evonne Marruffo, driver and case manager, and two moms served by the organization.
A hallway at the school featured a table with the 10,713 dimes collected in clear plastic containers, piggy banks that the first through third graders made and a handmade sign that said “Dimes for Dreams for Family Promise” with the amount collected. The students also received thank-you gifts from Family Promise.
Teacher Jody Braswell said that when she and co-teacher Jamie Halsell introduced the project to the students, they started off reading books about homeless children and families, and then students made piggy banks.
Braswell said they had intended to finish the project before Christmas, but the students wanted to take the piggy banks home so family members could donate to the cause.
The students took the banks home and brought them back after the holiday break.
“I’ve been trying to do service projects throughout the year and this is our third project that we’ve done,” Braswell said. “We talked about Christmas presents and the kids were talking about how there are some kids that don’t have things. I told them about Family Promise and then they wanted Miss Kara to come talk to them and then it just grew. One of the kids said what if we just got dimes and then it was Dimes for Dreams.”
She added that the students are amazing, wonderful, sensitive and caring.
Two of the moms that Family Promise is helping came to Montessori Mastery and the students asked them questions that included what their children like, where they go to school, what they do when it’s cold outside.
The funds raised will pay for items that included diapers, meals for the families, clothing needs, personal hygiene and cleaning products.
Evenson-Dorethy said Family Promise in Odessa is currently serving 12 people — nine children and three moms.
“When we first met with the children and they were telling us how they were reading books about homeless families, the young children really wanted to get involved,” she said.
Anyone interested in helping or serving Family Promise may contact Evenson-Dorethy at 432-934-6693.
