One of our community partners, Community Business and Educational Leaders (CBEL), supports the Cornerstone Learning Center. The learning center is set up to assist students with their virtual school lessons. The Cornerstone Learning Center, which opened October 2020, was the idea of Community Resource Trust Chair, retired Supreme Court Justice Paul DeMuniz.
The ALS-K Operation School Bell (OSB) coordinated with CBEL to arrange distribution of fruit and vegetables snacks, and literacy materials for the students and families on February 25th. The Chair of our childhood literacy program, R.E.A.D, collaborated with the Salem Public Library to organize distribution of the Library’s Books 4 Kids backpacks with age appropriate books and literacy activities. The Library provided backpacks and literacy materials through a grant they received to distribute literacy kits, and the ALS-K Auxiliary contributed school supplies. ALS-K purchased fruits and vegetables snacks from a generous donation by Goodwill Industries designated for OSB to provide food to those in need. Judy Martin, ALS-K President, emphasized, “We are proud of the many partners who joined our effort to provide “Food for the Body and Mind.”