President encourages faculty to participate in delivery of supplies.
By Sergio Medina
smedina104@student.alamo.edu
The Staff Senate is hosting a Back to School supply drive until Sept. 24, taking donations from students, faculty and staff to deliver to Antonio Margil Academy Sept. 26.
In an interview Sept. 11, senior adviser Lenell Clay said everyone is encouraged to donate supplies such as pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, hand sanitizer, spiral notebooks, dry-erase markers and colored pencils.
Drop-off locations include Room 260A of Loftin Student Center, Room 134 of the nursing and allied health complex, Room 136 of Chance Academic Center, Room 200 of Fletcher Administration Center, Room 123 of Gonzales Hall, Room 324B of Nail Technical Center and Duran Welcome Center at North Main and West Park avenues.
For a complete list of needed items and drop-off locations, visit Clay at Room 200 of Fletcher or call Nicole France, senior coordinator of outreach and recruitment, at 210-486-0934.
The drive happens annually.
“Every year, Staff Senate adopts an elementary school as our way of a service project and to give back to the schools in our backyard,” Clay said. “This year, we picked Margil Academy.”
The basis for selecting a school depends on the financial situation of the institution.
“We get a list of the schools,” Clay said. “We go after the most economically challenged ones in the group.”
Margil Academy at 1000 Perez St. is part of the San Antonio Independent School District.
“On the 26th, Dr. Vela and the Staff Senate, we’re going to go to the school and pass out the school supplies to each one of the classrooms,” Clay said.
During the College Council meeting Sept. 11 in the visual arts center, Clay encouraged those gathered to donate.
“I need your help,” he said. “Please, please, please, get your employer, faculty and staff to help us with the school supply drive, and let’s take care of these children for this year.”
Clay said having access to supplies promotes learning by encouraging otherwise dispirited students.
“Their eyes light up,” Clay said. “They’re just happy to receive something. That goes a long way.
“Always give back,” he said. “Remember where you come from.”
President Robert Vela agreed with the impact of these drives during the meeting.
“You hear it and you’re blown away,” Vela said. “The things that we take for granted that they so desperately need.
“There’s a lot more need than the resources we have, but that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we do and continue making an impact in our backyard,” he said.
“I really would like for you guys to come with us,” Vela said. “I want you guys to experience what we experience and how much it does matter.”
1 Comment
Thank you for adopting Margil Academy this year!