After high school graduation, many collegebound students spend the summer working in order to save money to buy new clothes and things they will need for school. Some will have help from their parents, some won't. Some won't be able to find summer employment at all, leaving them more likely to show up to school empty-handed, a South Side teacher said.
Bonnie Miah, a teacher at Paul Robeson High School, who saw the need to make sure that her students were sent to college with the basic necessities to furnish their dorm rooms, will cohost a “trunk party” August 2 at the school.
“Some of the students were first generation college students, so there was no one to really help them get a checklist together of the things they needed. And some of their parents weren’t in a position to provide them with what they needed,” Miah said.
Seven years ago, Miah coordinated the annual party, complete with a few scholarships, for 17 Robeson students.
Invitees brought linen, toiletries, dorm-size garbage cans, desk lamps, school supplies and other things to furnish and decorate a dorm room. All items were put inside of a portable trunk that sits at the end of the student’s bed.
Now, the event has grown to 80 students from several Chicago Public Schools.
“Word got around about the party and the scholarships that were given, and students from other schools wanted to apply,” she said.
Students interested in receiving assistance have to complete an application.
Once more people heard about the purpose of the party, donations grew. Then corporate sponsorship kicked in. But now, the economy is on shaky ground and funding has been scarce, Miah said.
“I send out 'beg' letters all the time. Some teachers pitch in, and so do other parents. We just need more help because the students need the assistance. They need all they can to strengthen their confidence when they walk on the campus,” she said.
Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th) also participates in the event.
“We've been doing this for several years, and it’s a real hit. We want to make sure the students know that people in the community care about them and want them to have what they need as they go off to college,” Lyle said.
The four-hour event–from noon to 4 p.m.–will include scholarship presentations, a cookout and two one-hour workshops for students and parents.
“The workshop for the students will give them a chance to talk about college issues that they may not want to discuss with another adult. For the parents, the session will be geared towards the ones that have first-generation college students leaving the nest. We want them to have a better understanding of what to expect,” Miah said.
She said there is no deadline for donating items or money to help supply students with items for college.
“It’s never too late to accept stuff. The minimum we put in the trunks is a bed-in-a-bag. If we have funding for more, we add in an extra sheet, an iron, clock radio and toiletries, among other things. But the additional items only come when money is available,” Miah said.
For more information about donating, contact Robeson High School at (773) 535-3800, or Lyle's office, (773) 846-7006.
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