USD 398 and Peabody Community Foundation (PCF) have partnered for the four Tuesdays in November for the past three years, but this year the pandemic has impacted plans when the District announced remote learning for junior and senior high students.
“We’ve still got our themes in place and are hoping the community will step up and participate,” said Becky Nickel, PCF Director.
She and PCF Board member Linda Wetta recently delivered thank-you notes from students to several community volunteers on the Nov. 3 theme #GiveCred.
Wetta said, “It occurred to me that it’s great that the kids do that, but I ought to do it also. I decided to write five each year, and I started making a list. It’ll take me at least ten years to write thank-yous to those that help all of us, those we depend on, that make our town the quirky, wonderful place it is.”
The second Tuesday in November activity is collecting personal care items for the Food Bank. Items like toothpaste, soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene products are being collected at Peabody Market, Vintage Bank and the elementary school.
The theme for Nov. 17 is “Be Neighborly” and participants are encouraged to help neighbors get large items to the curb for the City-wide clean-up on Nov. 21 and offer other acts of kindness.
The final Tuesday, Nov. 24, will be a food drive for the Peabody Food Bank.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prohibited hosting the fifth annual Winterfest/#GivingTuesday event at Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School, but PCF is still pursuing other measures to grow their funds on and around #GivingTuesday, Dec. 1.
The Jewell Family and the PCF Board of directors have given $6,000 in matching funds for contributions to any of the 20 funds PCF holds for the purpose of awarding grants and scholarships. In the past 10 years, these grants have made a $256,000 impact on the community, sustaining institutions like the township library, historical society, Hub Center for Youth and the Senior Center, as well as grants to charities that serve emergency needs, and scholarships.
On Dec. 1 PCF will announce grant awards to Peabody-Burns teachers for special projects. More information may be found on Facebook/Peabody Community Foundation and at www.centralkansascf.org under the affiliates tab.
