Supporting Education In Iron County: Opportunities To Get Involved And Make A Difference

“We just emptied 170 turkeys at Smiths!” That's what Shauna Lund reported to us on the radio show. Shauna is the Coordinator for the Iron County School District Foundation. The foundation's purpose is to “enhance the educational experience of every student, by seeking out, acquiring, and providing necessary resources to classrooms and students through private funding that is not provided through traditional educational and governmental resources.”

For those who have desires to have more involvement in the education process in Iron County, along with ways to provide services to those who have needs, there are a number of opportunities. Tracy Womack, a Student and Family Support Mentor was also on the show with us and she said, “we've had a lot of organizations who have done a food drive...for our pantry at the school district.”

You might not be aware that there is a food pantry, or more correctly two food pantries operated by the Iron County School District. One pantry is located at Canyon View High School. The other is a centrally located pantry serving needs through out the area. Lund told us, “we are serving families in need every single day.”

So, what were they doing with all those turkeys? The birds will be added to 170 food boxes that will contain bread, butter, cereal, peanut butter and macaroni and cheese. The boxes are put together by the Iron County Board of Realtors. The boxes will the be distributed to 170 families in the county and Lund told us that, “includes every school in the district...some for the families who are in need.”

Womack went on to say that there is a lot of work being done by the foundation and those who volunteer and contribute. “Our goal is to keep students in school so they will be able to get a great education and they can feel safe.” Along with food they can supply shoes, backpacks, and general school supplies.

Getting school supplies is another project that the Iron County Board of Realtors give assistance to. You may have noticed a bus parked at Wal Mart before the start of the current school year. Community members were urged to “stuff the bus” with school supplies by the Board of Realtors. Those school supplies were distributed to students with need through out the district.

And it's not strictly contributions that can be given. Lund told us that there is always a need for volunteers at the schools. “We have volunteers who come in and read with students who are struggling readers, or come in and help with a little bit of math,” she said. Volunteers do need to go through a background check.

Anyone who would like to consider making a contribution to the foundation can get more information by clicking here.

Listen to our entire conversation with Lund and Womack below.