MHS PAYS IT FORWARD: Mayfield High School students have begun a Pay it Forward room as a way to support fellow students and local Mayfield families in need.
“We know we have students who are missing necessities, who sit in the front row of our classrooms without gloves, hats and the necessities of life,” said Mr. Jerry Turk, a Spanish teacher at MHS and advisor of the Interact Club, one of the student-led organizations leading the Pay It Forward room. “We know there are many
Mayfield families suffering in silence.”
Whether the need for support is clothing, toiletries or pantry items, students from Mayfield’s Interact Club, Bridge to Success program and The Option’s Capstone project are gathering items to give back to fellow students and local Mayfield families.
Since the start of the school year, 50 students with the support of MHS teachers Jerry Turk, Tereza Buzdon, Kim Thompson, Social Worker Deanna Paglio and Deanna Elsing, Coordinator of Consortium programs have separated and organized more than 150 bags and boxes of clothing donated by local resident, Melanie GiaMaria. The student volunteers have been busily separating the clothes into sizing categories ranging from newborn to adult men and women.
“I want to be a vital aspect of the Pay it Forward room because my aunt (Melanie GiaMaria) taught us the importance of caring for families who are not as fortunate or blessed,” said MHS junior Lexi Giammaria, who has been an active leader with the project. “The outstanding seniors I work with, and teachers Mr. Turk and Mrs. Thompson all share the common goal of ensuring to make change for families and children to get their basic necessities without having to worry about the hardships and costs of money.”
Supplies in the Pay it Forward room currently are available to students and will become available to anyone in the Mayfield community needing assistance in January. More information and a timeline for clothing and supply donations will be announced in January 2023.
“There’s more of a need than we ever thought,” Mr. Turk said.