There are so many ways one person can make a difference.
After retiring from her position as Curriculum Director with the Linn-Mar School District, Diana Zrudsky served 8 years on the Marion Independent School District school board.
“That’s how I learned about Start School Right,” she said. “And I thought: ‘Let me try to help set up a shoe drive.’”
Start School Right is an annual program dedicated to ensuring that all K-12 students in the Marion Independent School District have the supplies they need in order to have a successful school year. This includes a backpack, school supplies, tennis shoes, hygiene products, breakfast foods, and more. Last year the program helped over 400 students.
Families in need can sign up each year to participate, and they can select which items and sizes they need. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, August 6, at Vernon Middle School.
“Marion does such a good job of finding the way we can help,” Zrudsky said.
For the last nine years, Zrudsky has partnered with other volunteers to coordinate the shoe drive. She reaches out to different community partners whose members contribute either a pair of new shoes or a monetary donation so the Start School Right committee can purchase the needed shoes.
Preparing for this event is a year-long process, and its success is thanks to three pillars of support: Volunteers from the Marion Independent School District; community contributions from Iowa Giving Crew, local churches, and individual citizens; and a partnership with Marion Cares, which supplies the backpacks and school supplies.
The impact of having these supplies can be monumental for a child in need.
“Our pastor [Pastor Jeff at Church of the Resurrection] had a good way of saying it: This program is about giving kids their dignity. They can begin the school year with their dignity.”
The Start School Right program, Zrudsky explained, is a way to extend that dignity to the entire family in need.
“Some people may not understand why a student needs a new backpack every year,” Zrudsky said. “All families live in different worlds. Sometimes we forget how different they are.”
For example, she said, for children who are living in more than one location or who may be homeless, it will be difficult—if not impossible—to keep track of a backpack and keep it clean throughout the year.
“None of this we can control,” Zrudsky said. “This [Start School Right] we can control.”
And while Start School Right is a one-day event in August, community support extends throughout the whole year in the Marion Independent School District.
District Social Worker Michelle Wilson “keeps funneling the help in all year long,” said Zrudsky.
“All this support comes about from people in the district who believe we need to support the whole child. When we understand the needs, we can be more supportive,” Zrudsky said.
“That’s Marion.”
Want to help make a difference? Consider making a monetary donation to Start School Right through our website.