Owensboro Rotary Club, as part of their partnership with the Hager Foundation, donated $20,000 to be split between the Daviess County and Owensboro public schools systems.
The money goes toward the school systems’ family resource and youth services centers and is allocated outward based on the needs the FRYSCs see for their respective systems. Each year, they receive a letter from each school thankful for the support and noting where funds have been allocated.
Coming out of the pandemic year, schools found new ways for the funds to be allocated. Pat McFarling read parts of the letters aloud during Rotary’s meeting Wednesday.
At OPS, District Nurse Ashley Holderby wrote that several funds went to assist students with vision exams, doctor visits, school supplies, clothing needs and transportation.
DCPS reported using the funds for counter medications, birth certificates for preschool students, family resource center funds and transportation.
“Both comment on the fact that transportation to doctor’s visits for medical supplies and all that was a great increase during the pandemic,” McFarling said.
Holderby said school health is funded completely by grants and donations. Donations like these help students inside and out of the school, as she noted one student was able to attend a field trip that was almost canceled because the funding allowed them to buy an EPI pen for the student.
“Many of the kids in our schools don’t ever see a health care provider until they come into the health room,” Holderby said. “So this allows us to do a little bit more, a little bit extra.”
