Helping students is so rewarding

I am lightly patting myself on the back as a road map for you getting heavily patted (not petted).

A friend teaches kindergarten in a nearby lower socioeconomic school. Occasionally, I have donated inexpensive items — soccer, volleyball and basketballs (actually, the basketball was expensive but had a year of abuse from being slammed against floors and walls), school supplies (pencils, erasers and crayons are especially appreciated for lower grades), Velcro paddles and balls, educational games, story books, etc.

For spending probably less than $100, I have been rewarded exponentially.

This week I am sponsoring — but giving a local university credit to inspire the kids’ educational aspirations — a $2-per-student “Dippin’ Dots” ice cream treat for the best-behaved kindergarten class for the week (as determined by the three teachers).

My tab will be a maximum of $44.

I spend more than that on TV and Internet weekly — plus astronomical sums feeding my dark-chocolate sweet tooth.

Schools in Curry and Roosevelt counties also appreciate donations of time (such as tutoring), services, cash, food, games, school supplies, etc.

Clovis resident and education professor Mike Shaughnessy told me there are a ton of individuals and businesses already helping.

Many do it anonymously; others request only their business name be recognized.

“I don’t know where to start,” Shaughnessy said. “For example, the donut people, pizza places, fast-food franchises, restaurants and supermarkets in Clovis and Portales contribute week after week, after week.”

Also pitching in are churches, charitable and civic organizations, civil servants, medical professionals, retirees, teachers themselves, etc.

“The problem is some of them get hit up all the time,” Shaughnessy said. “We need more people and businesses to share the load.”

I know many individuals and businesses helping out, but dare not name them because of the many I would omit.

If readers want to share stories of those going above and beyond, send me details at:

[email protected]

If you want to help, call any school and ask what you can do. The staff and kids will appreciate it — and you will be rewarded intrinsically far beyond your cost in time or treasure.

“There is just so much good going on out there,” Shaughnessy said.

Contact Wendel Sloan at: [email protected]