Escambia Charter School aims to make a bigger difference


  • September 23, 2014
  • /   Reggie Dogan
  • /   education

Escambia Charter School is shooting for the stars again.

The tiny Escambia county school last year shared the spotlight with celebrities and entertainers as a recipient of the Make A Difference Day award.

This year the school wants to be an All-Star among the shining stars.

With the goal of helping others and high hopes of being honored again, students are hard at work collecting food and clothing and raising money for a good cause.

Through serving the community on Make A Difference Day on Oct. 25, the school aims to make history.

The charter school for at-risk students entered the annual do-good contest in the All-Star category, which is reserved for previous Make A Difference Day winners.

“We got such a good response from the kids last year that we wanted to expand our efforts to include a cross-section of the community,” said Principal Jerome Chisolm.

Civic and community groups enlisted to help this year include the Civitans, Manna Food Bank, Waterfront Mission, Nemours Clinic and A Will & Way.

Last year, the school donated its $10,000 award to A Will & Way, a women’s prison ministry in Pensacola. This year more than 40 students, along with parents, guardians and volunteers are collecting donations to distribute 5,000 pounds of food and canned goods in Century on Oct. 25. Additional food will go to the Manna Food Bank and Waterfront Mission.

On the same day, students and volunteers will prepare breakfast to feed the hungry and homeless at Waterfront Mission. Later in the afternoon, they will prepare dinner for residents at the Ronald McDonald House.

They also will clean up yards for senior citizens and deliver clothes to Waterfront Mission and Favor House, a shelter for battered women and children.

Make A Difference Day is the nation’s largest day of service, bringing together millions of Americans to volunteer in their local neighborhoods and communities.

It was started in 1992 by Gannett Co. Inc.’s USA WEEKEND Magazine, along with partners, Newman’s Own Inc. and Points of Light.

Escambia Charter School last year was selected from thousands of nationwide volunteer initiatives that took place during the 2013 Make A Difference Day. It was the only organization in Florida to receive a Make A Difference Award.

“The students get real world exposure and get a firsthand look at what doing good can do for them,”

Chisolm said. “We want to continue to capitalize on our slogan: ‘Enter to learn; depart to serve.’ “

If you want to help the students help others, contact Jerome Chisolm at 937-0500, or email [email protected].

Drop off donations at Escambia Charter School, 391 90 & 9 Ranch Road, Cantonment, FL 32533.

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