Jefferson Middle School students recently presented their donation to GA Family Services Pictured are: Augustine Sprague, Ayonna Jackson, Advisor from Jefferson Middle School Sara Patterson, Lydia Simpson, Jesse Sprague, Darian McCauley, Faith Daniels, Jennifer Nelson and Beth Lamphiere from GA Family Services and Sue Cunningham, advisor from Jamestown Community Learning Council. Submitted photo

Jefferson Middle School students recently organized a Summer Toy Drive for kids and families working with GA Family Services. They collected toys for two weeks to donate with the help of Sue Cunningham, Jamestown Community Learning Council’s EASE (Educational Advocacy & Scholastic Enrichment) Program Coordinator.

“The students who organized this drive learned that no matter what life is like at home, at school or on the streets, they can make a positive difference in the lives of others and in their own lives,” said Mrs. Cunningham. “Through this project, the kids are having fun, learning new skills and building self-esteem.”

The students picked the service project they wanted to work on, set it up, wrote and read announcements over the PA system at Jefferson School and designed a flyer.

Jamestown Community Learning Council’s EASE Program is a partnership with Jamestown Public Schools. EASE provides fun-filled, school-based family engagement events for middle school students and their parents where they learn about NYS curriculum, extracurricular opportunities for students as well as ways parents can become partners in their child’s learning. EASE also offers many enrichment opportunities for adults including parent visitation to their child’s classroom, parent support groups and a variety of workshops by community specialists.

Gustavus Adolphus (G.A.) Family Services is founded on a tradition of caring and compassion toward youth that reflects its heritage back to 1885. They provide a full continuum of services for at-risk youth and their families including a residential and group home level of care, a Chapter 853 education program, therapeutic foster care, traditional foster care and preventative services.