Meeting Students’ Needs Outside of School

We are an AACPS: Community Partnership, Park ELementary School & Other Schools Across the County 

The Park community faces some extraordinary challenges. Limited economic resources in the community can lead to limited access to food, clothing, and shelter and many Park students have needs that extend beyond of the classroom. To support these children and their families, Park Elementary depends on the dedication of community partners like HOPE For All.

HOPE for All is a Christian-based non-profit organization created to assist families and children in need across Anne Arundel County. For many families, HOPE For All is there right when they need them most. With their Turning Houses into Home Program, HOPE provides furniture, clothing, kitchen supplies, and household goods to families transitioning from homelessness to affordable housing. Over the past 15 years, HOPE For All has helped 2,500 families transition into new homes.

At Park Elementary, HOPE For All is ensuring that students have what they need at home so that they can focus on learning at school. In addition to helping families transition into new homes, HOPE For All has built partnerships with the community to provide clothing and food to Park students. Through the organization’s Head to Toe program, HOPE regularly provides students with clothing, school supplies, and shoes so that they can show up to school with confidence. HOPE even helped Park create a shoe store, for students to “shop” for a new, free pair of shoes when their old ones get too small or wear out.

“What HOPE has done is unbelievable,” says Principal Sandy Blondell. “So many of these families don’t have family support, which makes what HOPE does so important.”

Leo Zerhusen, who founded HOPE For All with his wife, Diane, understands how students’ needs at home impact the classroom. “My background is in education,” he said, “I see the kids and see their needs and it was always a matter of giving back.” This commitment to giving back has led Leo to connect Park Elementary with resources even beyond HOPE. He has partnered with Giant Foods to donate bread that students can take home to their families and with Faith in Action, another Christian-based non-profit organization, to set up a food pantry for Park Elementary families.

No matter where the support is coming from, there is no question about the difference it makes to the Park Elementary school community. As best said by Principal Blondell, “The impact is just incredible.”