Your response to Millvale children is amazing
September 15, 2019The white box truck that rolled up to Ethel M. Taylor Academy Friday wasn't Santa's sleigh.
It was better.
A dozen women from Mason and Indian Hill began unloading large brown boxes filled with nylon backpacks that were stuffed with fleece blankets, soap and toys.
There was one for every student.
The kids were cautioned to open them later, but many couldn't resist a peek.
"Pink! It's so soft," proclaimed a first-grader as she touched it to her face.
Others slipped the bags, white with the school's Soaring Hawks logo emblazoned on them, on their backs. A chorus of Merry Christmases and thank-yous echoed in the Millvale school's hallways.
In April, the Enquirer published "When there's not enough," a story that detailed what it was like to live in the city's poorest neighborhood. In Millvale, kids go to school hungry and sometimes dirty. In many cases. kids don't have beds. Parents can't always afford Christmas gifts.
The story prompted an outpouring of love and support. Readers donated nearly $50,000 to the school's foundation, 20 kids who used to sleep on the floor got beds, shoes and clothes, and other donations poured in. Every classroom now has a business sponsor.
Erin Lang, 43, of Mason, saw the story on Facebook and was drawn in.
"These kids are everyone's kids," Lang said.
She and her friends filled two cars with donations. They made meals for the after school program until the Freestore Foodbank officially took over. And they haven't stropped helping.
She used Signupgenius.com to rally her friends to help. More than 60 people donated the 2,800 items she needed for 370 bags.
Her friend Rhonda Arington, of Indian Hill, was all in.
"I couldn't get it out of my head," she said. "I prayed for the school and God opened the flood gates of these ladies' hearts."
Taylor Academy Principal Ceair Baggett and Resource Coordinator Molly Luken said they have been thankful for the help.
"I appreciate that outside the community people realize there is a need," Baggett said. "We have the one thing we needed, continued support."
As for the bags, Reading Specialist Ewa Hufford said "They're filled with the things kids need."
The women, most in Santa hats, went room to room handing out the backpacks.
Near the end, in a quiet hallway, a little girl ran up to Lang.
"Somebody didn't get one," she said.
"Who?" Lang asked, looking around for who had the extra bags.
"Me," the girl said.
"Well, Merry Christmas," Lang told her, as she handed her a bag.
"Thank you," the girl said.
How to help
Give new socks, new underwear, deodorant, blankets, new and gently used books, and new gym shoes up to size 10 adult. Drop off or mail to: Taylor Academy, 1930 Fricke Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45225.
Donate to Soaring Hawks, a non-profit agency that helps the school with what it needs. Send checks to 3236 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45226.
