Jaclyn Claus

Pictured above (in the back row) are group leaders Patty O'Rouke, Liz Curran, Kaitlin Walsh and Jaclyn Claus.
...
But, when Jaclyn Claus, Program Director for the Tobin After School Program in Westwood, received a flyer from the Food Pantry asking for help, she saw an opportunity to have her students make a real difference in the community.

"This time of year lots of people are on vacation, so the Food Pantry needs extra help," explains Claus.
...
Says Claus, "All of the kids helped to make the lemonade and squeezed lemons and decorated the stand with balloons.During the drive, they chanted at cars as the passed by.They had a lot of fun."

According to Claus, not only did the children learn more about the importance of helping others, but also they surpassed their goal of raising $100 for the Food Pantry and were able to make $114 in addition to collecting "a ton" of cans.

"A lot of kids and their families donated money, which we used to buy cans and supplies, such as toothpaste, which the pantry tends to be low on.A lot of people who drove by stopped to donate money too," recalls Claus.

Due to the success of this year's drive, Claus is hopeful that the lemonade stand/ food drive will become an annual summer event.

"It's good for the kids to be aware of other people who need things and for us to try to help out when we can.At the school, we're always trying to think of new ideas to help people," explains Claus.

Pictured above (in the back row) are group leaders Patty O'Rouke, Liz Curran, Kaitlin Walsh and Jaclyn Claus.
...
But, when Jaclyn Claus, Program Director for the Tobin After School Program in Westwood, received a flyer from the Food Pantry asking for help, she saw an opportunity to have her students make a real difference in the community.

"This time of year lots of people are on vacation, so the Food Pantry needs extra help," explains Claus.
...
Says Claus, "All of the kids helped to make the lemonade and squeezed lemons and decorated the stand with balloons. During the drive, they chanted at cars as the passed by. They had a lot of fun."

According to Claus, not only did the children learn more about the importance of helping others, but also they surpassed their goal of raising $100 for the Food Pantry and were able to make $114 in addition to collecting "a ton" of cans.

"A lot of kids and their families donated money, which we used to buy cans and supplies, such as toothpaste, which the pantry tends to be low on. A lot of people who drove by stopped to donate money too," recalls Claus.

Due to the success of this year's drive, Claus is hopeful that the lemonade stand/ food drive will become an annual summer event.

"It's good for the kids to be aware of other people who need things and for us to try to help out when we can. At the school, we're always trying to think of new ideas to help people," explains Claus.

E-mail: Jaclyn Claus, jclaus@thetobinschool.orgEstablished 1995