Panther Run Elementary School uses each school year to help those in need and make a difference in the community. Each year, through the PTA Sister School program, the school provides donations to sister school Pioneer Park Elementary School in Belle Glade, as well as local Panther Run families.
Starting as early as August each year, the school collects back-to-school supplies that are organized and then delivered to Pioneer Park in late September.
This past September, the school delivered several boxes of donated items, including new school supplies, gently used school uniform clothing, sweatshirts, sneakers and sporting equipment.
In November, the school hosts a Thanksgiving basket drive. All classrooms at the school are tasked to bring in designated items to complete a full Thanksgiving meal, including table settings, in addition to raising enough money to provide a gift card in each basket for the receiving family to use toward buying a turkey to complete the meal. The school completed more than 40 decorated baskets that were presented in individual storage containers (provided at a substantial discount from the Royal Palm Beach Target store) that the receiving family could reuse at home. The baskets were delivered to Pioneer Park families, as well as some local families in the community, before Thanksgiving.
On the tail of completing the Thanksgiving basket drive, the school starts right up with the annual toy drive. This year, Panther Run was able to provide more than 350 wrapped gifts to Pioneer Park and local families before the holidays.
Later in the year, the PTA will provide Pioneer Park with snacks during the Palm Beach County spring testing period.
Throughout the remainder of the year, Panther Run’s PTA, students and staff will continue to collect gently used school uniforms, shoes and equipment to support this continued outreach program and make a difference in the local and surrounding communities.
Panther Run’s delivery of more than 50 Thanksgiving baskets to Pioneer Park included complete meals, table settings and a gift card for a turkey in each basket.
ABOVE: Panther Run Student Council members help complete baskets.
