NORTHAMPTON — Groceries, glasses, masks and headphones are among the items a recently launched GoFundMe appeal aims to provide to help members of the school district through the pandemic.
Earlier this week, parent teacher organizations across the school district and members of REAL (Racial Equity and Learning) launched a campaign to raise $50,000 to support needy students, families and school staff.
Funding from the Joint PTO Critical Needs Fund will go to all schools in the district “to support the urgent and critical needs of our students, staff and families ― from remote learning supplies to technology needs to the cost of accessing the Internet,” according to effort’s GoFundMe page. PTOs, principals, school social workers and counselors will give out the money based on requests.
“We’re open to all kinds of needs,” said Liz Horn, president of the Northampton High School PTO.
“We know the needs during the pandemic and remote learning are bigger and different than any other year. There might be needs that don’t seem directly related to education but really are impacting the kind of school year that staff, students and families are having,” she said. Horn isn’t yet sure when the funding will be distributed.
“COVID-19 has taken so much from our students,” Superintendent John Provost said in a statement. “There have been relief packages for workers and small businesses. Our students are still waiting for their relief, and it’s clear that if our community doesn’t come through for them, then no one will. Our PTOs and local community are our last hope.”
All PTOs in the district have not combined forces for a fundraiser before, at least in recent memory, Horn said. “We were always looking for ways to work together on common challenges,” Horn said. “I think this year and the pandemic have shifted that into sharp focus.”
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.