By JENNIFER OPALINSKI
SRVRTC Director
NEWPORT — Thank You Barbara’s Foods, the maker of Puffins Cereal for your generous donation of $5,000 in cereal to support children in need in the Newport School District.
On Thursday, Jan. 9th near 11a.m. a big tractor-trailer rolls into the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center parking lot in Newport for a big delivery! Three full pallets of Puffins cereal arrived where recipient Deb Stevens was waiting.
“I just can’t believe it,” reported Stevens, horticulture teacher at SRVRTC. “We received about 1,000 boxes of cereal today,” she added. The pallets wouldn’t fit through the front doors of the technical center so they were delivered through the automotive shop.
On Thursday night, during the school board meeting, Center Director Jennifer Opalinski handed out boxes of cereal to each board member and thanked the board for accepting the generous donations of food and money for the community.
“We are very thankful,” said Opalinski, “to have a caring and compassionate teacher like Mrs. Stevens at Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center. School is the heart of the community and the donation of this cereal will go a long way toward feeding hungry children who are members of our schools, Newport Food Pantry and Head Start Newport.”
Where did this cereal story start? Stevens was recognized by ABC’s Good Morning America Strahan, Sara and Keke Show in November for being a very special teacher who is especially dedicated to the growth, leadership and care of her students.
Stevens was nominated by Shannon Howe and her son CJ Howe, CJ was a student of Stevens and under her guidance, CJ has reached national leadership opportunities with FFA this year.
Thanks to Shannon Howe’s nomination, Stevens was flown to New York City, featured on the Strahan, Sara and Keke show with the Howes and then flown home with the promise of gift of $5,000 to repair the aging greenhouse in horticulture and $5,000 in cereal from Barbara’s foods.
The check for the greenhouse arrived a few weeks ago and just last week box after box of Puffins cereal arrived at the technical center. The cereal will be on display for the public to see during SRVRTC Open House from 5-7 p.m. on Jan. 29.
After the Open House, the cereal will be distributed throughout the community to children in need. Puffins will be given to students at Richard’s School, students at Newport High School, Newport Food Pantry, and Head Start of Newport. Organizations that would like to be included in the outreach effort, can reach out to Opalinski at 865-9612.
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