Revised News Release

Montgomery County Public Schools and School and Business Organizations Work Diligently to Ensure Families are Assisted with Food During the Winter Break through the MCPS Cares Project

Montgomery County Public Schools in partnership with the Parent Teacher Associations/Organizations at schools, local organizations, and school business partners have joined together to provide care baskets to needy families during the winter break. Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson’s initial goal was to acquire 23 baskets representing one basket from each school, but thanks to the generous support of the parent presidents, local organizations and the business partners, more than 77 baskets have been donated. Baskets from schools are being delivered to families at the schools the Parent Teacher Associations/Organizations serve and the remaining baskets are being distributed to the families most in need across the school division.

As free and reduced lunch percentages have increased over the years, Dr. Anderson said she wanted to do something to ensure that families had non-perishable food during the full two weeks of the school division’s winter break. She implemented this project in a former school division with great success and this seemed to be a great way to support the many MCPS families in need of food during the winter break. The care baskets being provided include food for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a family of four. “Once the project began individuals from churches and others in the community began contacting Donna Underwood, the student services administrative assistant, with baskets they filled enabling us to serve many of the families who need additional support when school is closed,” shared Dr. Anderson. 

Parents are able to pick the baskets up this week. However, many of the food baskets are being delivered with the assistance of the school district warehouse, the administrative assistant in student services and other school division staff. 

The following businesses and individuals donated baskets for this effort:

Christiansburg Lowes, Radford Lowes, Alvis Electric, Ewing Cabinets, Carilion, Comprehensive Computer Solutions (CCS), Corning, Snyder & Associates, Shelor Motor Mile, Member One Credit Union, ProChem, Old Town Printing, Freedom First Credit Union (Main Street Blacksburg Branch, Squires Branch, and Christiansburg Branch), Moog Components Group, Goodwill/New River Valley Workshop in Radford, Montgomery County Commonwealth Attorney’s office, Production Quest, Mountain Precision Tool, Walmart in Christiansburg, Rainbow Riders, Prudential Radford & Associates, Acco/Salem Stone Corporation, Pizza Inn, Linkous Paving, R.S.V.P, the Stipes family, and Joni Underwood.

The following schools and school division departments that donated baskets for this effort include Belview Elementary School, Margaret Beeks Elementary School, Christiansburg Primary School, Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School, Gilbert Linkous Elementary School, Harding Avenue Elementary School, Kipps Elementary School, Shawsville Elementary School, Blacksburg Middle School, Shawsville Middle School, Auburn High School, the nursing staff, School Board Office staff, the technology department, and the facilities department.