Public employees across the nation give back to their communities in extraordinary ways every single day. From donating to food banks to helping their neighbors and protecting their communities, public employees have always been there when their community needs them the most.
Here are stories of public employees in service to their communities.
21 moving photos of kindness in the time of coronavirus by Lisa Kanarek. Across the country, public employees and everyday citizens came together to help out their neighbors and communities during the coronavirus pandemic. In a wide-ranging piece for Reader’s Digest, Kanarek shares the stories of everyday folks supporting their communities through 21 photos. At the onset of the pandemic, a teacher in Ronan, Montana wanted to let her students know she was still there for them as schools closed. Jessica Davis contacted her fellow teachers, staff, and administrators to create fun videos for the student body. All-in-all, 23 participated to bring smiles to students’ faces. Davis commented, “It can be very detrimental if our students do not see or hear from us during such times as these.” You can view the full video here.
Cambridge Springs police to host National Night Out by Mary Ann Mook. Since 1984, police departments across the country have hosted the National Night Out to bring a closer bond between police officers and members of the community. Tonight, in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, police officers are hosting their event. Sponsored by local businesses, the event will be host to family fun activities, including a bicycle safety course, fingerprinting, and a K-9 unit will be on hand. Even the local fire department is chipping in. Patrolwoman and organizer Alyssa Angelo of the department commented, “There is going to be a relay race for the kids — police officers against firefighters. They are going to put on our gear, and we’ll see who wins.”
Sound teaching: New technology helps educators be heard in class by Charles H. Featherstone. With students returning to the classroom soon, Jody Armstrong, a speech pathologist from the Moses Lake School District in Washington, went above and beyond to make sure students with hearing difficulties and other disabilities are cared for. Armstrong partnered with the Moses Lake Lions Club to raise money for 14 new “FrontRow Juno” amplification systems. The systems are operated by teachers wearing a portable Bluetooth microphone, and the speaker amplifies their voice so all students can hear. The Lions Club has raised $20,000 so far, breaking through their pledge of $18,000. Armstrong commented, “It helps the kids with the hearing problems be able to focus in on the sound, where it’s coming from, and who’s speaking above the classroom noise. And that’s really where the benefit comes in for every single student.”
Be sure to check back next week for more stories of public employees giving back to their communities!