New school year finds students in need of school uniforms, donations sought

22nd August 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Kelly Parker
Contributing Writer

The decision to make school uniforms mandatory for students in New Orleans public schools added to the growing list of back-to-school essentials; and post-Katina as well as recent economic challenges has made the burden more apparent to many families.

Enter Kevin Buckel, who saw the need to serve as an example to his son Chad, and show how one person’s generosity can make a big difference to many in the community.

In 1991, he started the Adopt-a-Family Program which allowed locals to help homeless families with donations of household items and necessities vital for a new start.

Buckel saw a similar need for area students and wanted to help them get off to a good start for new school year. Since 1997, the Adopt-A-Family program uniform drive has raised donations to help purchase two school uniforms for students in need.

The formula is a simple one: People send contributions in any amount, and school social workers identify the neediest students and use $50 vouchers to purchase two uniforms (per student). Donors who support the program receive personal thank-you notes from students, along with a receipt for the uniform purchase.

Buckel pays postage costs, the social workers find students in need and, and lawyers at the Metairie firm Cabibi & Cabibi donate their expertise; making sure all donations are accounted for and rightfully appropriated.

“I got a loud cry from parents telling us their children were not going to school simply because they didn’t have uniforms.” Buckel told The Louisiana Weekly. In working with school social workers, he heard those sentiments echoed.

“We wanted kids to feel more accepted and feel that sense of belonging and not get teased for not having uniforms — so they could concentrate more on their studies.”

The drive has helped provide uniforms to numerous students over the years, raising close to half a million dollars since its inception, thanks to generous individuals and residents.

“I’ve received great support from locals who send $50 and adopt one student,” Buckel says. “All the kudos should go to the people who trust me with their donations,” he said. “So many are still with me after all these years.”

He states that so far this year, his organization has helped a little over 200 local students get uniforms, with 220 youth still waiting for assistance.”

“We normally raised close to 50,000 pre-Katrina. Of course (Katrina) changed everything,” Buckel says. “The organization is averaging 15,000 and 17,000 a year. Still, “I’ve been meeting the requests-we use every penny that comes in for the donations.”

“The requests for uniforms are up this year, a little over 25 percent,” he added. “Some schools are still trying to get kids in school and don’t get fully cranked up until after labor day, so I’m expecting there are schools that have yet to send us requests.”

Danita Mashia Wilson can attest to how costly it has become to provide uniforms for students. She has two seventh-graders attending Mc Donogh 35 College Prep High School. “The uniform requirements are the yellow oxford shirt for $21, plaid kilt skirts were $39, black/white oxford saddle shoes were $35,” she says.

“Now mind you, the shirts will change at least two more times before they become seniors. I’m glad I only have two kids.”

All the more reason to recruit local businesses to serve as corporate sponsors.

The Adopt-A-Family program is a non-profit organization, so contributions are tax-deducible; but Buckel hopes businesses can see the long term benefits: Investing in the success of our students is investing in our future success as a community.

“I’m hoping people see that this is a program that has 100 percent integrity, it’s managed funds for the past 15 years and never misplaced a penny,” Buckel says.

“We’ve got law firms and banks that donate their services, so I’d like potential corporate companies to see that this is a good cause; 100 percent of the donations are spent on school uniforms.”

A job opportunity actually moved Buckel to Long Beach, Ms. about 15 years ago; however, the Adopt-A-Family program stayed at home.

“I’m from New Orleans, and you don’t just give up on your city when you leave,” he says.

Donations should be made out to Adopt-A-Family and sent to Adopt-A-Family Uniform Drive, P.O. Box 457, Long Beach, MS 39560.

For more on the Adopt-A-Family program and how to sign up to help, go to www.la-adopt­afamily.com, or the call the hotline at (504) 831-4312.

This article was originally published in the August 22, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper