A group of staff members at Cartmell Elementary School searching for a service project found a surprise local connection with U.S. military service members deployed overseas.
The leadership committee chose the Shoeboxes for Soldiers project in October 2022. They collected shoeboxes and small items that could be shipped inside to soldiers. Initially they were going to be donated to the local National Guard Armory, but second grade teacher Amy Alsup shared her connection to a unit that was deployed overseas.
First Sergeant Bill Lewis and his unit were deployed overseas in May 2022, with the expectation of being gone for nearly a year. He and Alsup attend the same church. Lewis and his wife, Brittany, have four children and they live in Carroll County.
“After discussing the opportunity to adopt this group of deployed service members, it was quickly decided to bless them with the care packages,” Alsup said.
Cartmell families were asked to provide shoeboxes in November 2022 for the Shoeboxes for Soldiers project. Families met the need and the next challenge was to collect donations to put in the boxes and send to soldiers.The items collected ranged from snacks and games to products pertaining to hygiene.
Cartmell staff, students and families collected more than 2,000 items to be shipped overseas, which far exceeded their schoolwide goal. As a bonus, students would be allowed to “pie” Cartmell’s administration team if they exceeded specific goals.
During the collection period, small groups of students counted the items and updated the goal tracker that hung in the cafeteria. The final count was tallied before winter break. The entire school gathered in the gym to celebrate and watch as all of the administration team - Michelle Long, Tammy Welch, Laura Beth Neff, Tina Wilson and Brandi Wells - each got pie in the face.
The care packages were shipped in three segments - January through March - and the postage was paid thanks to donations by NAS and NUCOR. Their donations also allowed for the purchase of even more snacks for the soldiers.In addition, Christmas cards were made by the students and mailed to the soldiers in December.
“It was a way to show appreciation to the soldiers and encourage those men and women who are overseas and away from families, especially during the holidays,” said Stephanie Wood, an English Learners teacher and one of the project’s organizers.
According to Alsup, she received a text message from First Sgt. Lewis, thanking the Cartmell families for the care packages.
Wood noted that Lewis and his unit returned stateside before all the donations could be mailed, so the remainder went to the next unit deployed to the same area.
“There was an outpouring of support from students, staff, parents and community members,” said Tina Wilson, assistant principal. She noted projects like this teach students about service learning, compassion for people and to appreciate military service members.
Cartmell staff, students and families have worked on the project for several months, wrapping up their last shipment recently.
The teachers and staff on the leadership team which spearheaded this project include StephanieWood, Amy Alsup, Tina Wilson, Kayla Scrogham, Laura Pirtle, Chandra Yocum, Robin Johnson and Melody Stark.
