Angel Network: Helping Students Succeed

Stacks of canned goods with colorful labels filled most of a room at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus on Dec. 13.

Row upon row of detergent bottles – like a platoon of soldiers ready to do battle with laundry – stood at attention on a separate  table.

Meanwhile, volunteers from the Emmaus High School Angel Network surveyed the community donations before boxing them up for 110 families this holiday season.

Volunteer Debbie Hartman praised the church, its minister, Rev. Ric Elliott, and his wife, Jane, for their willingness to let the Angel Network set up shop at the church for this holiday project.

"If it was not for them, I do not know where we would put this all together," said Hartman.

The church, located at Cedar Crest Boulevard and Pine Street, is across the street from the high school campus. It's an ideal location for the Angel Network to organize the boxes of canned goods and detergent, in addition to some donations of winter coats.

Compared to last year, twice as many families are receiving these donations this December. Their children are eligible for free or reduced price school lunches in the East Penn School District.

 Donations of food also are distributed by the Angel Network for Thanksgiving and Easter.

Some Angel Network volunteers, including Hartman and Mary Martorelli, no longer have children at Emmaus High. Their children have grown yet they stay involved. "I'm a part of the community," Martorelli said, "and if there's a need, I feel it's important to contribute."

Though there is no doubt this project is worthwhile, it's just a sample of the projects the high school's Angel Network does through the course of a year. In fact, there are Angel Networks in all East Penn School District schools except the one that opened this fall, Willow Lane Elementary.

Amazingly, it all started eight years ago with one woman who was concerned about her son's sixth grade friend at Eyer Middle School in Lower Macungie. That year, Janice Johnson, now coordinator for the high school's Angel Network, asked the middle school's PTO members a pointed question: "Do we just work on raising money for fun stuff?"

What about children who lack sufficient clothing to wear to school or who don't have enough money to purchase school supplies? A child with special needs at Eyer was the first recipient of Angel Network help – more specifically, donations from Johnson of school clothes and pajamas.

The program grew from there, branching out throughout East Penn. The high school's Angel Network started five years ago.

Emmaus High Angel Network members include staff members, parents, teachers and student groups, plus community members and organizations, churches and corporate sponsors. Everyone involved shares resources with one ultimate goal: "To help EHS students succeed."

The organization works closely with EHS guidance counselors to provide the resources confidentially and equitably. Receiving students or their families put in requests for specific needs. The Angel Network then contacts its volunteers, asking for specific items or monetary donations.

Also, the "Resource Closet" at Emmaus High contains a wide variety of items, such as school supplies, backpacks, gym clothing, bathing suits (for aquatics class), hooded sweatshirts and hygiene supplies.

Monetary donations make possible the giving of emergency food, clothing on an individual basis, participation in a curriculum-based field trip and other academic expenses.

To become an "Angel Giver" at Emmaus High, contact Diane Salute, membership coordinator, at salute@ptd.net or 610-966-2857.

High school students who want to confidentially receive assistance should contact Jen Carolla, a guidance counselor, at 610-965-1650, or talk to their own guidance counselors.