About nine months ago, members of the West Lowndes community gathered together and asked themselves: Who are we? What is our purpose?
Now, members of the newly formed West Lowndes Community Outreach organization have helped raise more than $14,000 to fund student needs at West Lowndes Elementary and High schools.
It’s an effort led entirely by community members aiming to give back to West Lowndes schools by providing “whatever they might” to ensure each child is a productive student, Fred Tolon, coordinator for the group, told The Dispatch.
“We don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring, but we do know, if we’re here tomorrow, we need to be serving a purpose,” Tolon told group members Thursday at West Lowndes Elementary School. “We need to be giving back.”
Tolon said the group was born out of conversations with school administrators about what needs students have, ranging from financial aid to life skills development to mentorship. From there, community members started meeting more frequently to determine how they could help meet those needs.
“I heard a teacher say … they had to go in their pocket (to buy) clothes for some of the students,” Tolon said. “I appreciate that teacher doing that, but we can help.”
The group hosted its first big event in March, a two-day revival event in Crawford that helped boost funds to more than $14,000.
Tolon said a five-member committee will be formed to determine exactly how to disburse the money and what for what causes, whether it be sports uniforms, school supplies or other things.
“We’ll see going forward what works,” Tolon said. “It’s pretty (fluid). We’re taking feedback from the body as we grow and as we try to do what West Lowndes needs.”
The group is working to gain status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so that it can accept larger donations and partner with businesses. Tolon hopes that task can be completed by the end of the year.
In the meantime, he hopes to build “strength in numbers” by encouraging alumni of West Lowndes schools to participate in the effort.
“You’ve got people all over the world who came through West Lowndes,” he said.
While the group doesn’t currently have any alumni members, most of those in the organization have connections to West Lowndes schools, including Tolon, whose children attended WLES.
Two retired West Lowndes teachers, Thelma Jones and Nancy Wicks, attended the meeting Thursday and presented certificates of appreciation to WLES Principal Robert Sanders and WLHS Principal Antonio Magee.
Both Jones and Wicks said it is a blessing to give back to a school where they have such deep roots.
“I love (being a part of the effort) because I live in the community also,” Wicks told The Dispatch. “… My children attended West Lowndes. It’s my place. I love it.”
Encouraged by the group’s support, Sanders said it’s reassuring to know there are people in the community willing to supplement the effort educators pour into students each day.
“It just lets you know that there are people that still are and are willing to help kids,” he said. “… It gives us a little bit more energy to keep pushing because there are people that are out here, and they’re watching and they see that (others are) willing to help us.”
Magee said it also makes a difference for students when community members show up consistently and stay involved the way the group has so far.
“Our students need to see some of our community members, leaders, pastors of churches,” he told The Dispatch. “When they see familiar faces and they see us working together, their principal and their pastor or whomever, … then it makes a difference also.”
Donations can be mailed to West Lowndes Community Outreach, P.O. Box 136, Crawford, MS 39743.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
