Several Wisconsin middle school student groups will have a unique opportunity to make their mark on their communities after being awarded Character Playbook Community Impact Grants from the Green Bay Packers.
Student groups, under the guidance of a Wisconsin school or nonprofit organization, were invited this fall to develop a service project to help their school, neighborhood or surrounding community. After the project proposals were submitted and reviewed, 10 group project ideas were selected to receive a grant.
Groups selected will receive grant awards up to $500 through funds from the NFL Volunteerism Grant to help finance implementation of the project. The projects receiving support include:
- Hi-Mount Community School in Milwaukee will be creating a community garden to provide a space for community members of all backgrounds to gather and enjoy.
- Students from Kiel Middle School will build a fundraising stand for students to utilize when raising money and collecting donation items for various causes.
- To acknowledge mental health and foster belonging, the Youth Impact Club at Badger Middle School will be creating "lift kits" for students to give to their peers when they notice someone is struggling. The kits will include encouraging cards, stickers, positive affirmations and snacks.
- Students from the Poynette Middle School HOPE Squad will host "HOPE Night," bringing students and families from the community together to talk about suicide awareness and prevention. The event will offer a variety of activity stations, games and snacks.
- Seymour Middle School eighth graders will engage in small acts of kindness by visiting and playing bingo with students at the elementary school and residents of a local retirement home, as well as creating and delivering cards and crafts to the local veteran's manor.
- Members of the Pollinator People, a student group from Harborside Academy in Kenosha, will plant a pollinator patch at Simmons Island Beach along Kenosha's Lake Michigan beachfront. By removing invasive plant species and replacing them with native species, the group looks to continue to improve water quality in the Lake Michigan area.
- Students from Gaenslen School in Milwaukee will address food insecurity by organizing a school-wide food drive and meal kit assembly event. The kits will be distributed to a local food pantry and community members in need.
- Students from St. Clare Catholic School in Wrightstown will put together "love baskets" for students with disabilities to foster and promote inclusivity in the community.
- Mineral Point Middle School students will organize a districtwide generosity day by pairing K-5 students with middle and high school students to create community gift bags to deliver to different organizations. Students will participate in a variety of generosity activities throughout the day and host a food drive.
- Students from Waterloo Intermediate/Middle School will compete in 20 competitions known as the "Pirate Games" to promote community and inclusion while developing important skills such as teamwork and sportsmanship. Activities will include speakers on various topics including AODA and anti-bullying.
Each group selected has a project supervisor who will help guide the students in their project and to serve as the communication liaison with the Packers. The projects should be complete by the end of the school year.