December 2018: Onaway Students Begin Three-Part Project for Fostering Hope

Right before Thanksgiving Break, Onaway and Fernway@Onaway students began the school’s PTO-sponsored three-part service project for Fostering Hope, a Cleveland nonprofit that enriches the lives of children living in foster care. Over the next four months, students will assemble and create items to include in journey bags---small duffle bags, backpacks or suitcases filled with toiletries, clothing items, pens, paper, small toys and other items---which are given to children when they enter foster care. Many children enter the foster care system without any personal items beyond the clothes they are wearing.

For part one of the service project, students hand-colored and assembled journals and bookmarks with inspirational messages for the journey bags. On December 21, students will make no-sew blankets and on March 29, students will assemble toiletry kits to include in the bags.

“We wanted to have a cumulative service project that students feel connected to throughout the year,” said Carisa Tilton, Onaway PTO president. “It’s a great opportunity for all the students at Onaway to come together and help others.”