Holly Lane Service Club raises money for autism

Holly Lane Service Club members, from left, McKenna Riley, Sydney Scaggs and Nicole Starr, make bracelets.

Students from Westlake's Holly Lane Service Club have been able to pair the latest fashion and crafting craze among kids, Rainbow Loom bracelets, with a great cause. The club recently donated the $122 it earned by selling “Bracelets 4 Autism” to local nonprofit Connecting for Kids.

The popular blue-and-white bracelets were sold to Holly Lane students during April which is Autism Awareness Month. Club member McKenna Riley, who has a sibling with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), came up with the idea that was voted on and eagerly undertaken by the group. The students both made and sold the “Bracelets 4 Autism” themselves.

“We have some pretty amazing students in Westlake doing some really amazing things,” said Colleen Mudore, Holly Lane Service Club coordinator. “Our job as teachers and coordinators is to help our students make their dreams of helping others a reality. I think one of our Service Club students said it best when she said, 'teachers just need to inspire us' and then the kids take over and do the rest.”

In addition to suggesting the project, Riley recommended that the money raised be donated to Connecting for Kids, an organization that provides education and support for families with questions or concerns about their child’s development. Riley’s family has benefitted from the many speakers, events and programs that Connecting for Kids offers in the community. 

Riley’s mom serves on the Connecting for Kids Board. “McKenna approached me about donating the bracelet proceeds to Connecting for Kids because she knew how much the organization has done for our entire family,” said Kim Riley. “My husband and I have attended parent discussion groups and speaker series; my son attends the ‘Teach me to Play’ and music therapy classes; and we even receive free, safe childcare for our other children while we attend all this programming.”

“These students are showing amazing leadership and our organization is so happy to accept this donation,” said Sarah Rintamaki, executive director of Connecting for Kids. “We will use the money to buy more toys and games for our childcare room where children play while their parents learn about ways to help them."

Lorilynn Wolf

Lorilynn Wolf serves as Public Relations Officer for Connecting for Kids.

Read More on Schools
Volume 6, Issue 12, Posted 9:31 AM, 06.10.2014