Launch the media gallery 1 playerCMS 5th Graders Help Others with Project Jack
April 15, 2019
The Cherokee Middle School fifth grade under the direction of their teacher, Sue Nelson, was given the opportunity to help a staff member with a wonderful project to help those undergoing cancer treatments at the June Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City.
The fifth graders were recently awarded $250 from Project Jack sponsored by the Realtors of Iowa. Project Jack originated in the Quad Cities area of Iowa in memory of Jack Lindaman. Jack Lindaman liked to make people happy and was always a positive light to those around him despite his health issues. Jack passed away in February 2010 at the age of six from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). With Project Jack, his memory and loving spirit will continue on through the good deeds of children. Realtor Foundation of Iowa has created a fund to help students across Iowa to participate.
The project gives fourth and fifth graders the opportunity to pay it forward in any way the class chooses. The original project was carried out five years ago with each person in Jack’s class at Alan Shepard Elementary School receiving $100 to pay it forward.
The Cherokee Middle School fifth grade assisted one of our staff members, Kayla Reuter, in filling her 110 chemo bags with items patients would appreciate while taking chemotherapy at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Mrs. Reuter received a tremendous amount of community support for her project. Each zippered bag was sponsored by a friend, relative, or colleague of Mrs. Reuter’s, and many people donated items for the bags, but a few more items were needed to make the bags even better.
The fifth graders used their Project Jack funds to purchase Aquaphor lotion and hand warmers. The students made inspirational cards to include in each bag as a way of letting those undergoing chemotherapy know that someone was thinking of them. After all the items were collected, the students assisted Mrs. Reuter in stuffing the bags with all the donated items. Members of our community sponsored the zippered bags. Besides the lotion and hand warmers the bags included: hand sanitizer, shampoo and conditioner, puzzle books, notepads, thank you notes, pens, pencils, hard candies, stickers, lip balm, and tissues all donated by generous members of our community. Some patients will even enjoy some fuzzy socks! Thank you, Mrs. Reuter and the Realtors of Iowa for this wonderful opportunity!
