On Dec. 12, with a trunk full of school supplies in his Toyota Prius, Scott Straub, Assistant Professor at College or Western Idaho (CWI), arrived at Boise Rescue Mission Ministries City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise with a generous donation.
For the past three semesters, Straub’s Education students have collected school supplies to help families in need during the holiday season.
"I asked my Education students if they wanted to donate funds or supplies to something and they suggested City Light," said Straub. "We started collecting a bunch of supplies for their program including calculators, pens, pencils, and notebooks, really anything that a student might need in school."
The City Light shelter offers a safe haven of hope and love, providing emergency services such as meals, shelter, and clothing, as well as education, work-search assistance, mental health counseling, and addiction recovery.
This semester, the project was supplemented by a Thrivent Financial Action Team award, which Straub used to purchase calculators and other supplies that tend to be a bit more expensive.
"Scott excels at exposing students to the needs within our community and thinking beyond the classroom,” said Courtney Santillan, Dean of Social Sciences and Public Affairs. “Most people tend to donate food and clothing to shelters. Schools supplies are another essential, and we hope it gives these children one less thing to worry about. It clearly demonstrates how a small group can have a big impact in the community.”
