Students, Easter Seals banding together
Band Boosters hosting Fill the Truck to help disabled; raise band dollars
The North Royalton Band Boosters is hosting a Fill the Truck event Aug. 18-20 at the board of education lot to raise money for the band while at the same time supporting Easter Seals programming. Photo by JAIME ANTON
NORTH ROYALTON – The North Royalton Band Boosters marches to the beat of a different drum.
This group’s marching orders are to do all it can to help the community at large while also helping to fundraise for the North Royalton High School Marching Band.
Each year it organizes the Fill the Truck event encouraging the community to declutter for a good cause, accepting donations of clothing, blankets, towels, shoes, purses, stuffed animals, cloth lunchboxes and backpacks. Even stained items can be recycled.
Items collected are given to the Easter Seals’ Community Action Program, the proceeds of which support crucial programming for area children and adults with disabilities such as speech therapy, home care, medical equipment loans and summer camp opportunities.
A portion of the proceeds, based on poundage, is also given to the Band Boosters to support the band, so the more items that are donated by residents, the more the boosters and Easter Seals receive monetarily.
The goal is to completely fill the truck to capacity and every resident is being challenged to bring at least one bag of clothing donations for the causes. Items that are given are eligible for a tax deduction and participants will receive a receipt during the drop off.
The next Fill the Truck event will be hosted in conjunction with the North Royalton Community Festival: from 4-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 coinciding with the marching band’s parent, family and friends preview night; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20.
A truck from the Easter Seals will be parked throughout these collection times just west of the North Royalton Board of Education at 6579 Royalton Road.
The community has donated nearly 20,000 pounds of clothing and goods during the past year during the three drives hosted at home days, the holidays and again in the spring.
Holly Michalke, Band Boosters’ Easter Seals chairperson, said she wasn’t aware of the full scope of the Easter Seals mission until recently and finds the organization even more worthy.
“I was not aware that they hire the disabled so not only are you donating them goods but it gives them a job. And it all stays within the organization itself which is really nice,” she said. “And, our kids are learning to get involved in something that pays back to the disabled. It’s a nice way to be a contributing part of the community, and in return, we make a few pennies per pound. It’s full circle.”
School Board Vice President Dr. John Kelly has been a longtime supporter of the Band Boosters. He called this event a win-win for the entire community.
“Families served by Easter Seals are able to get the benefits of gently used household items and clothing. Residents and band families are able to purge unused items from their households and make their homes less cluttered,” he said. “Finally, at a time when fundraising is difficult, Band Boosters can raise some funds to help keep our world class band on the field. I hope the entire community will take advantage of this important band booster effort. And, of course I hope the community will continue to come out and cheer for our band at every opportunity possible.”
This group’s marching orders are to do all it can to help the community at large while also helping to fundraise for the North Royalton High School Marching Band.
Each year it organizes the Fill the Truck event encouraging the community to declutter for a good cause, accepting donations of clothing, blankets, towels, shoes, purses, stuffed animals, cloth lunchboxes and backpacks. Even stained items can be recycled.
Items collected are given to the Easter Seals’ Community Action Program, the proceeds of which support crucial programming for area children and adults with disabilities such as speech therapy, home care, medical equipment loans and summer camp opportunities.
A portion of the proceeds, based on poundage, is also given to the Band Boosters to support the band, so the more items that are donated by residents, the more the boosters and Easter Seals receive monetarily.
The goal is to completely fill the truck to capacity and every resident is being challenged to bring at least one bag of clothing donations for the causes. Items that are given are eligible for a tax deduction and participants will receive a receipt during the drop off.
The next Fill the Truck event will be hosted in conjunction with the North Royalton Community Festival: from 4-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 coinciding with the marching band’s parent, family and friends preview night; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20.
A truck from the Easter Seals will be parked throughout these collection times just west of the North Royalton Board of Education at 6579 Royalton Road.
The community has donated nearly 20,000 pounds of clothing and goods during the past year during the three drives hosted at home days, the holidays and again in the spring.
Holly Michalke, Band Boosters’ Easter Seals chairperson, said she wasn’t aware of the full scope of the Easter Seals mission until recently and finds the organization even more worthy.
“I was not aware that they hire the disabled so not only are you donating them goods but it gives them a job. And it all stays within the organization itself which is really nice,” she said. “And, our kids are learning to get involved in something that pays back to the disabled. It’s a nice way to be a contributing part of the community, and in return, we make a few pennies per pound. It’s full circle.”
School Board Vice President Dr. John Kelly has been a longtime supporter of the Band Boosters. He called this event a win-win for the entire community.
“Families served by Easter Seals are able to get the benefits of gently used household items and clothing. Residents and band families are able to purge unused items from their households and make their homes less cluttered,” he said. “Finally, at a time when fundraising is difficult, Band Boosters can raise some funds to help keep our world class band on the field. I hope the entire community will take advantage of this important band booster effort. And, of course I hope the community will continue to come out and cheer for our band at every opportunity possible.”