Four 8th grade students from Accompsett Middle School have successfully completed a powerful community impact project, donating 120 blankets to those in need and securing a $4,500 grant to the national nonprofit, Blankets of Hope.
"I would like to express my deep respect and admiration for these young leaders as they successfully executed this project," said Michael Toth, teacher and team advisor.
Talia Cascione, Mary Perri, Nadia Tomitz, Olivia Read had a goa lof collecting 100 blankets to support the homeless, while also addressing emotional needs by attaching handwritten notes of encouragement to each donation. Partnering with Blankets of Hope, the students facilitated a 30- minute kindness workshop for 6th graders in their school. The workshop focused on developing empathy and concluded with each participant writing a thoughtful, uplifting message to be attached to a blanket. To support their efforts, the team requested either a blanket donation or a $2 contribution from participants, which was used to purchase additional supplies. Through their initiative and leadership, the students secured 120 blankets— exceeding their goal—with support from the founders of Blankets of Hope.
“We hoped to continue this program for the next four years as we believe it is important to share the message of hope and empathy. With the support from Lead4Change this is now a reality,” Cascione said.
The final donations were delivered to a local women’s shelter, providing warmth and encouragement to members of the community in need. In recognition of the project’s success and its potential for long-term impact, Lead4Change awarded a $4,500 grant to Blankets of Hope, enabling Accompsett Middle School students to continue this meaningful partnership in the future.
(Pictured Left to right: Talia Cascione, Mary Perri, Nadia Tomitz, Olivia Read)
