SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS — The Spring Lake Heights Elementary Kids Care and Service Clubs took no time off for this month, announcing that in February they are once again partnering with In our Loving Hands to host a drive for people in need.
For this month’s drive, the Kids Care Club, which is made up of first and second graders, and the Service Club, which is third- through eighth-graders, are accepting undamaged eyeglasses, sunglasses and cases.
Eyeglasses, which can be dropped off at a bin in the Heights Elementary School main lobby, will be donated to New Eyes for the Needy, a national nonprofit that uses a voucher program to provide new eyeglasses to people across the country and lightly used eyeglasses to people internationally that cannot afford eyeglasses on their own.
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February is the second month in a row that the Heights Elementary clubs partnered with In Our Loving Hands, a volunteer based community effort that “addresses the social, economic and wellbeing issues for individuals and families in the surrounding areas,” according to creator Nancy Kelly. In January, the clubs hosted an infant supply drive where they received 1,100 diapers and over 100 packs of wipes.
“All of the students in the club have such big hearts”, said Francesca Preston, an elementary school teacher at Heights who has supervised the Kids Care Club since 2017. “It is such an honor to be able to work with them and show them more opportunities to be involved in making our community an even better place.”
Nancy Kelly created In our Loving Arms eight years ago and still operates it today. As a former employee of the Wall Township School District, where for 37 years she acted as a special education teacher, a school social worker, and a guidance counselor, Ms. Kelly used her connections that she garnered while working in education to launch her volunteer group.
Ms. Kelly said that when she first came in contact with Ms. Preston and Ms. Cunningham while substitute teaching at Heights, the trio were ecstatic to work with one another.
“What I have learned is that there is always something to do in our local communities and if you ask, people will help”.
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