Student and Family Liaison Juanamia Kelley helped secure the opportunity through an existing partnership with FedEx Cares. She said the organization installed benches at Warrendale about seven years ago and has been a great partner for the school.
“We’ve had a good foundation and partnership with FedEx and FedEx Cares for a while,” Kelley said. “They love helping support the kids. I’ve been trying to work to build partnerships throughout the community.”
Each student in Kindergarten through fifth grade got their feet sized and picked out a new pair of shoes. FedEx Cares employees helped students find the right pair for them, making the process smooth for everyone.
The impact for students goes beyond new footwear. When students have a reliable, comfortable pair of sneakers, they have one less thing to worry about, focusing more on learning and growing their character through the National Heritage Academies® (NHA®) Moral Focus™ program.
Students also took home two free books each, inspiring them to continue reading at home. They also had a chance to share gratitude with FedEx Cares and Operation Warm, signing banners thanking the organization for helping this event become a reality.
The opportunity was also a blessing for families. While they were not in attendance, Kelley said she knows shoes and books are a cost for parents, so she was excited to ease those expenses for families.
“With the price of food and gas going up, I know this was a great opportunity for parents and our students,” Kelley said. “I have many students that come see me for new uniforms, and I see how fast kids grow. I’ve seen students come to me with shoes that don’t fit, so I know it was exciting for them.”
Kelley continues to build partnerships like the one between Warrendale and FedEx Cares and Operation Warm. She connects with local businesses and secures discounts for families, creating an authentic relationship between the school community and its neighborhood.
What an awesome event! Keep up the great work, Juanamia and everyone at Warrendale!
About Warrendale Charter Academy
Warrendale Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Detroit, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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