Adopt A Family has been a tradition at Lawrence High for many years, but in a time of economic turmoil, sometimes those asked to make donations need the donations themselves.
Sophomore Orchestra teacher Rachel Dirks and Men’s Choir choral pianist Joyce Jordan put quality over quantity by deciding to combine classes and adopt one single mother with four kids this year.
“I had a smaller sophomore class this year, and we didn’t want to shortchange a family.”
This family will not be “shortchanged” however. Dirks and choral pianist Joyce Jordan have taken on the Adopt A Family project with full force.
Dirks has implemented theme weeks to encourage the kids to donate. Dirks’ favorite is Spare Change Week.
“It’s a good chance to let everyone get involved,” Dirks said. “Some kids put in the 15 cents they have in their pockets, while others bring large buckets of change their families have saved. We made over $150 in spare change this year.”
Dirks also set minimum money levels with rewards for each. At the first level, she offers to bake brownies, and at the final level, she offers to bake pie. The prizes are cumulative and are earned in $50 increments starting at $150.
“It gives them something to look forward to, and it gives me a chance to bake, which I love,” Dirks said.
Jordan carried on her tradition of a bake sale. On Thursday Dec. 3, Jordan sold an assortment of homemade baked goods. She pays for the supplies out of her own pocket.
Jordan also got her family involved in the project.
“My husband needed help moving some things, and he offered to donate to the cause in exchange for labor from some of the boys. It gave people without money to give a chance to contribute to the cause.”
Additionally, Jordan led an exercise with Men’s Choir about how much clothes, shoes, gifts and a Christmas dinner cost.
“I think it was really eye-opening for a lot of them,” Jordan said.
The two classes planned to have all the money donated by last Friday so that Dirks can take several of the students shopping for the family.
“The shopping is really fun,” Dirks said. “I think it’s better that we have the students just donate money so we make sure there’s equity among the kids in the family.”
The class will purchase their gifts before Adopt a Family’s Dec. 10 deadline.
