Leadership Lakes Region donates to Care Closet at Laconia Middle School

LACONIA —The Leadership Lakes Region group recently conducted its annual Social Issues Day. This is one of eight program days conducted throughout the year for a class of area professionals in a variety of subject areas. In anticipation of the day designed to foster a better understanding of the social issues impacting the Lakes Region, this year's class of 23 was asked to bring in donations for the Laconia Middle School's Care Closet.

Run by school nurse, Kerriann Reynolds, the Care Closet is a confidential place where students from families struggling economically can get basic supplies, personal hygiene items, clothing and other day to day essentials. Leadership Lakes Region first learned of the existence of the Care Closet when the then Middle School Principal briefed the Leadership Class of 2012 on its purpose and the struggles that a lot of his students had to deal with to get ready for school each day. Class member Rosa Michaud, an employee of Bank of New Hampshire, was especially moved by the Principal's description. Ms. Michaud then spoke to her fellow classmates and encouraged them to bring some much needed items to the next Leadership Lakes Region meeting for delivery to the Middle School Care Closet. Thus was born a connection between a school staff working hard to meet its students' basic needs outside of the classroom and a leadership class willing to pitch in.

Each year since, the Leadership Lakes Region class has purchased items from Nurse Reynolds' Needs List and brought them to the Care Closet. Ms. Michaud has also continued the new tradition by placing collection bins at local Bank of New Hampshire offices so other bank employees can donate. When asked to describe the purpose of the Care Closet, Nurse Reynolds stated "The Middle School Care Closet supports students to perform at their fullest potential by providing access to items that meet their basic needs. This enables the students to focus on academic success."

Any member of the public or civic group can also donate to the Middle School Care Closet. Simply contact Nurse Kerriann Reynolds at (603) 524-4632 or e-mail kreynolds@laconiaschools.org for details and a copy of the current Needs List.