SPSEA adopts New Orleans school

By Victoria Irwin
Lycourier Staff

The Lycoming College S-PSEA (Student-Pennsylvania State Education Association) again adopted St. Agnes Parochial School, Jefferson Parish, La., for its annual School Supply Drive. Donations are due by March 31.

Barbara Horn, the education department secretary, remained in contact with the Principal Bridget Sinibaldi since 2006 and has informed S-PSEA that St. Agnes’ building is still suffering from water damage due to Hurrican Katrina and has limited funds for supplies to students.

St. Agnes would appreciate any and all supplies anyone is willing to donate, Julie Martinez, chapter president, said.

Horn said the relationship begain in the spring of 2006 after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.

The S-PSEA members wanted to work with schools affected in New Orleans and Horn has a friend in New Orleans who found St. Agnes Parochial School and set up the drive.

In addition to the supply drive, the group was able to obtain a donation from a window blind company to help replace the water-damaged blind.

The relationship continued last May when Horn and a friend, Nancy Walker, made a surprise visit and met children who had received the donated supplies.

Upon a second visit, Horn met Sinibaldi, making an introduction by joking about the window blinds. The principal, having never met Horn, immediately knew it was her and a connection was formed.

When the members of S-PSEA approved another drive to New Orleans this year, Horn set up the program with Sinibaldi again.

After collection, the items will be shipped to St. Agne, with the possibilityof a hand delivery by Horn’s daughter.

S-PSEA has set up five locations where students, faculty and staff can donate any items before March 31.
Items needed include but are not limited to: Elmer’s glue, erasable pens, crayons, glue sticks, children’s books (kindergarten thrugh eighth grade), tempera paints, pain brushes, scissors, Expo markers and board cleaner, washable markers, watercolors, composition notebooks, colored pencils, white-out, staplers, pink erasers, construction markers, white board erase markers, baby wipes, card stock (any color).

Collection bins are located at mail services, the library side of Pennington Lounge, Long Hall, the D-wing on the second floor of the Academic Center, and in the Heim Building (in the lobby near the elevator). In addition, S-PSEA is taking monetary donations to offset shipping costs.

A jar for donations is in Snowden Library at the circulation desk.

Horn stresses that donations of any kind, monetary or otherwise, will be greatly appreciated. “Donate items or money--they can use everything. They’re wonderful kids,” she said.

Additional information is available by contacting Julie Martinez, S-PSEA president, at marjuli@lycoming.edu or Horn at horn@lycoming.edu.