Each month, we are excited to feature a school counselor in Pitt County. As we enter the holiday season, we want to make sure families know there are many opportunities to share what you have and to receive help if you should need it. Pitt County Schools’ counselors are a great resource if you need help connecting to community resources. Whether you are able to give, or it is your time to receive, there are many ways to be involved in community supports this time of year. Some options, many with school connections, include:
Toys for Tots, Backpack Buddies, Food Drives for Joy Soup Kitchen, The Great Toy Takeaway, Angel Trees, and many more.
We talked with school counselor Kristi Kennedy about her coordination of an Angel Tree Program at EB Aycock Middle School.
PPS-PC: There are many ways families can be involved with schools during the holiday season, either by helping others or utilizing available opportunities. What project does EB Aycock support during this time of year?
Ms. Kennedy: EB Aycock has been supporting our students during the holiday season for many years with our Jaguar Angel Tree. We get great support from the community and our Jaguar families to help students and families who need assistance this time of year. The tree is in place each year the week of Thanksgiving.
PPS-PC: If families want to help someone else by participating in the Angel Tree project, how do they get involved?
Ms. Kennedy: If families want to help someone on our Jaguar Angel Tree, they can come to EB Aycock and pick a paw off of the tree, or email Ms. Kennedy at kennedk@pitt.k12.nc.us and I can pull a paw for them and send a picture. Each paw has a gift written on it that a student has identified as a wish list item. The gift can then be returned with the paw so I can match it up with the student who put it on their wish list.
PPS-PC: If families need help (or know someone who does) from the Angel Tree project, how would they go about getting connected?
Ms. Kennedy: If families need assistance, or know of someone else in our school who does, they just need to call E.B. Aycock at 252-756-4181 and speak to either Ms. Kennedy or Mr. Atkinson, or email kennedk@pitt.k12.nc.us. I will then send a permission letter/wish list home for the student and parent to complete and return to me.
