Wolverine Donation Dens Installed

The REALTOR® Foundation of Iowa helps people in need across the state. That tradition continued during the 2019-2020 school year with Project Jack. Originating in the Quad Cities area in memory of Jack Lindaman, the project gives 4th and 5th graders the opportunity to pay it forward in any way the class chooses.

The original project was carried out 6 years ago with each person in Jack’s class at Alan Shepard Elementary School receiving $100 to pay it forward. There were not any stipulations given or rules to follow on how to use the money. Projects ranged from donations to charitable organizations to passing out roses to strangers. The project has changed as we have rolled it out across the state of Iowa. 4th and 5th-grade teachers are invited to fill out an application for a $250 grant to be used toward a pay-it-forward type project. (Information provided by www.iowarealtors.com)

It just so happens that was the school that Mrs. Holtz used to teach at and the class that her son, Austin was a part of. Needless to say, it is a project that is near and dear to her heart thus, this is the second year in a row that River Valley has participated in Project Jack. If you recall, during the 18-19 school year our RV 4th and 5th graders spent a day working and helping at The Gospel Mission in Sioux City and donated $1000 worth of foods and toiletries to The Gospel Mission.

This year, we wanted to keep the project a little closer to home.

As mentioned before, students wanted to bring the project closer to home! We wanted to impact our own communities as much as we supported The Gospel Mission the previous year. So, an idea was born! Students decided to build donation dens for each city where free will donations could be housed in a weather-resistant box for community members to use as needed or donate to as they are able.

Right away, we realized we were gonna need WAY more support to build such a den than what our 4th or 5th graders could manage. So, it was decided to make this a team effort between the elementary school and the high school and we asked Ms. Kourtney Miller and her Industrial Arts class to help! They were more than willing to offer their time and talents to the project!

Before beginning project construction, we knew it was pertinent to gain approval and support of our four city councils. So, some students, a few parents, Mrs. Holtz, and Ms. Miller split the towns up and shared the project at each of the council's February 2020 meetings. Approval was given by each town and the wheels were put into motion!

Shortly after our meetings with each City Council, and with the help of Ms. Miller and her students, the 4th and 5th graders idea for free will donation dens in each of our four River Valley communities was brought to life! Ms.Miller guided many of her 19-20 Industrial Arts students through the necessary instructions to build the dens and the blueprints were even drawn up by one of her own students too! Materials were purchased from our local lumber yard and paid for using a portion of our Project Jack grant money. Unfortunately, in the middle of the build, COVID hit, bringing a halt to all production.

Not to fear! Thanks to the dedication of Ms. Miller and her students, our dens were back in the works by Sept/October of 2020 and installed in mid to late November.

The week of Thanksgiving, our students were finally able to finish the long awaited project by filling each den with non-perishable food items, school supplies, and toiletry items. The last of our Project Jack funds helped to stock the dens for their first patrons!

As you are out and about towns, please look for our dens! As you see them, remember that Wolverines are KIND, DETERMINED, and work TOGETHER just as the heart of this project reveals. We could not have brought the vision to life without the kindness of the Iowa Realtors Foundation and our students, the determination of our industrial arts department to complete construction and installation, and the togetherness of our cities, students, and schools!

Please do utilize the dens as you need! Share about them with others, and pay it forward! If you are able to donate to these dens throughout the year, it keeps the kindness going and helps our community too!

Finally, thank you to the countless people who made this all possible! It's a great day to be a Wolverine!

#WeRRV #kinddeterminedtogether #projectjack