Through United Way of Central Maryland, Spartan Surfaces learned about the Great Neighbor Initiative at Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School. The Great Neighbor Initiative connects local businesses and non-profit groups with the school to improve the attendance of students by focusing on assisting the school with rewards and incentives and by finding ways to improve the health and wellness of the families at Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School.
Spartan Surfaces saw that a significant number of Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary students walk to school each day. With winter weather approaching, approximately 100 employees of Spartan Surfaces dedicated an afternoon to creating 400 kits to warm the hearts and bodies of students in the community.
To support children who walk to school, Spartan Surfaces packed winter warming kits with socks, hats, gloves, tissues, hot chocolate, and a special message from someone on the Spartan team.
In addition, with guidance from Beth Littrell, assistant director of Community Engagement and Volunteerism for United Way of Central Maryland, Spartan Surfaces created literacy kits geared towards the construction industry. Building around the theme of The Three Little Pigs, the kits encourage students to build and test the strength of three types of houses using pipe cleaners for straw, popsicle sticks for wood, and Legos for brick. Each kit includes the book, sight words, and handmade puppets of the three little pigs and the wolf to act out and test each of the structures.
“We’re excited that Spartan Surfaces could join our Great Neighbor Initiative this year! The warming kits ensure our students have additional resources to stay warm as they walk to and from school, and the literacy kits will be a great addition to our next Family Literacy Night,” said Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School Principal Christina Douglas.
“This is a true example of a positive community-school partnership,” said Amy Novak, United Way of Central Maryland relationship manager for Harford County.
Spartan Surfaces Vice President of Marketing Meredith Nicholson shares, “There is so much need throughout our county and we are always wishing we could do more. This year marks our third annual charity event in Harford County and we are grateful for this annual tradition of giving back. We look forward to all that’s in store for future years and finding ways to continue to have an impact on those who are closest to us.” ###
