The "Bringing Out The Best In Students" Story

Part of the pile of school supplies collected for students in Texas

It was an ordinary day.  Stopped at the Landis Run Interme- diate School in Manheim Township, Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania to take a few more photographs for the school yearbook.  The school is five years old now and I have been doing the yearbook for each of those years.  As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a Channel 8 TV vehicle next to the main entrance.  At first I thought something terrible may have happened, but after walking into the office I found that a cameraman had arrived to take TV footage of students who had just participated in gathering school supplies for those in need in Texas who had recently been struck by a devastating hurricane.  

Students sign a letter to students in Texas.

There had been a weeklong drive to collect school supplies in the lobby.  The pile of supplies grew and grew each day until today when a vehicle with a large trailer arrived to pick up the supplies and deliver them to Texas.  I talked to an older man by the name of Kermit who told me that he and his son, Richard, were heading to some point in Texas to deliver the supplies.  Richard is a resident of the township and asked the administration in the district if they could help provide relief to the children in Texas who had lost most of their school supplies.  As can be seen in my photos, the result is impressive and shows the giving attitude that the school was hoping to develop with the project.  I just happened to arrive at the perfect time to get a group photo of the eight students who were responsible for helping get the supplies.  

Loading the trailer with supplies going to Texas
while the TV cameraman documents the loading.

Watched the students carry all the supplies to the trailer for loading.  One of the young girls was fitted with a microphone so she could be interviewed for footage which will be part of a news story in the near future.  Kermit told me he and Richard were heading to Texas tomorrow with supplies from Landis Run as well as other schools in the district.  Told me they may have to obtain a larger trailer since they have been overwhelmed with the tremendous amount of support for the project from the school district.  

TV vehicle arrived to document the giving of supplies.

I also talked to the students involved and found they were really happy they could do something nice for students in another part of the country who were in need.  They were also excited about being on TV in the near future.  I never saw children work so hard and with the biggest smiles on their faces.  Could be the TV camera helped.  I too want to thank all the families in the school district that contributed to this very good cause.  Made me feel much better knowing I live amongst caring children as well as parents.  Good job Landis Run!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.