The Douglas High School Assistance Funds received a $2,350 check Monday from First American Title, Keller Williams and Carson Valley Accounting. Deanna Sorhouet, Cynthia Failor, Natalie Dufty, Ryan Blaver, Vanessa Ozolin’s, Principal Mike Rechs, Emily Tobias, Brynn Nelson and Brandy Marshall.
High school is hard as it is and the last thing a student needs to worry about is their clothes and supplies or being denied entry on a sports team or in an AP class based on their income.
On Monday, $2,350 was donated to the Douglas High School Assistance Fund, which helps students with fees.
First American Title, Keller Williams and Carson Valley Accounting raised the money during the Truck or Treat event in October.
Cynthia Failor of First American Title said the goal was to support the community and the high school.
“Which we did,” said Failor. “We are grateful for the support from the community.”
Douglas High School counselor Vanessa Ozolins said the assistance funds helps students who are low income or homeless, and who can’t afford back-to-school supplies or clothes.
“It helps with everything from a graphing calculator to clothes,” said Ozolins. “The kids who receive it are grateful and walk out of here feeling more confident and like a whole new kid. It really does make a difference when they’re able to get what they need and build their self-esteem.”
Ozolins said the program has been in existence at the high school for several years already, but it was all donation-based before.
With the help of First American Title, Keller Williams and Carson Valley Accounting and some grants she said the program can be better established.
“We would get donations here and there, mostly in the form of gift cards for clothing stores, which helped and allowed students to shop for themselves, get their specific sizes and styles, but now we can expand what we are able to help with,” she said.
The funds will be used for low-income students and those who may not have any income at all or are even homeless.
“It fills in those gaps for students who might not be able to pay for certain things, “said Ozolins. “Like, clothes and school supplies, but also for things such as advance placement classes and sports. A student should not be limited on what they want to do because they can’t afford it.”
Ozolins said the assistance funds program is completely confidential.
For more information
contact Ozolins in the counselor’s office at Douglas High School or call 775-782-5136.
