St. Joseph Academy (SJA) preschool students and their families received a special treat, thanks to a generous donation from General Motors through Donors Choose. 

Kayla Fellows, Assistant Director of SJA’s Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC), entered SJA into a contest, sponsored by Donors Choose, an organization that makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education. SJA won a $1,000 Walmart gift card from General Motors to purchase items for its Head Start classrooms.

Cassandra Leech, Lead Head Start Preschool School Teacher at SJA, assembled care packages of food, personal care items, and school supplies for 12 families. She delivered the packages to families, while maintaining social distancing rules, on May 1. Leech said that the families were thankful for the donation, especially those impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

Leech said that she was grateful to Donors Choose and General Motors for the Walmart gift card.

“I am very thankful I was able to provide my families with items to help them through this hard time,” she said. “It was an amazing opportunity to help keep the children learning, while also giving the families extra food and personal care items that they might need. It was so awesome how excited the kids were to get their packages and to see all their school supplies.”