Fundraising for local schools | News, Sports, Vacancies

Featured photo: WNY P-TECH students Dakota Kent, Parker Bohn, Mya Benjamin, Brandon Hamilton, Masen Miller, Paul Cunningham, Tiajay Perez, Gavin Milner, Tyler McIntyre, Max Hansen-Yvette and John Pilski, and Melissa Piotkiewicz, School Social worker.

Students from the SAVE Club at WNY P-TECH STEM College and Career Dunkirk want to help those less fortunate in Chautauqua County.

With the help of partners in the Kind of Chautauqua area, the club will host a food and donation drive to help schools that FeedMoreNY has not yet assisted open a food and hygiene closet. Participants collect items that will benefit students who are homeless or homeless during the week.

The SAVE Club, run by the Sandy Hook Foundation, is a national initiative to build community within schools to prevent violence.

Members of the WNY P-TECH SAVE Club recognize that there are barriers outside of school for students in our district that prevent them from focusing and succeeding in various programs. After participating in inclusion and connection activities throughout the year, they felt compelled to do something to address one issue in particular: food insecurity.

Thursday, Nov. 14, at the following locations: WNY P-TECH, 55 E. Benton St., Dunkirk; Vacanti Barber Shop, 7 E. Main St., Fredonia; and Forestville Chiropractic (4Square Wellness), 24 Main St., Forestville.

Items to collect include winter hats and gloves, travel shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrushes/paste, dry shampoo, microwave-safe meals, rice pouches, hearty soups that don’t require a can opener, protein bars, meal kits snacks, beef jerky, granola bars, mac and cheese, fruit skins, fruit snacks, trail mix and travel silver.

Anyone with questions is asked to contact Melissa Pietrkiewicz, school social worker at WNY P-TECH, at 716-672-3144 ext. 2820.

WNY P-TECH offers a differentiated, project-based learning structure in which specialized educators work in tandem with higher education institutions, business partners, and public school districts. Students work toward New York State Regents degrees and AAS degrees in Welding Technology, Mechanical Technology with a concentration in CADD, or Machine Tools or Mechatronics from SUNY Jamestown Community College.