School partners with Central United Methodist Church

By Lynn Atkins

Posted: November 25, 2009 at 6 a.m.

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LITTLE ROCK — As the holidays approach, counselors all over the school district take on anadditional responsibility. At each school, teachers know which students will have a merry Christmas and which ones won’t.

They want to help and it’s often the school’s counselor that organizes that help. At Grimes, a burdenhas been lifted off the entire faculty, counselor Tammy Haynes said, and it’s because of a partnership with Central United Methodist Church.

The church came to the school last summer, Haynes said. It was their idea to partner.

Grimes was chosen partly because it’s close to the church, partly because some Grimes teachers attend that church and partly because the school’s namesake, Bonnie Grimes is a member, Haynes explained. But no matter why thematch was made, it’s been a welcome partnership for the school.

Early in the year, church members collected backpacks for students. Haynes still has some brand new backpacks left for students who need one. She’ll pass them out as she sees a need. Later, there was a shoes and coat drive.

“You watch a child come in wearing shoes with the soles ripped off,” Haynes said. “You give them a brand new pair and they walk out with the biggest smile. It makes the kidsfeel special - on top of the world.”

She also has new shoes and coats stored waiting for a need. As the weather gets colder, she expects to send some students home wearing a brand new coat for the first time.

For the holidays, the church is setting up an Angel Tree with needy Grimes students benefiting. In the spring, she expects to partner with the church for a book drive, so students can bring home their own brand new books for the summer.

The church also sendsvolunteers to the school for special events. Church members enjoy seeing the youngsters they’ve helped and the school loves having the help.

Haynes became a counselor after years in the classroom because she knew that you can’t teach a child who is hungry and cold.

“The basic needs have to be met before you can teach anything,” she said.

She graduated from Iowa State University and taught in Texas for nine years. Texas offered more opportunities for her husband, whois now the athletic trainer at Rogers Heritage High School, she explained. But after nine years they wanted to be closer to family and moved to Mountain Home.

They loved the four seasons in Arkansas and the easier drive to Iowa.

It was their son who drew them to the Rogers area.

He’s attending University of Arkansas and about to present the couple with their first grandchild.

“We love this area,” she said. This is her second year at Bonnie Grimes Elementary School.

Scholars, Pages 8 on 11/25/2009

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