CLAUS Project Teaches Students Community Involvement And Helps Others

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Students at a Tupelo elementary school are learning about hard work, community involvement and serving others.

Third, fourth and fifth grade challenge classes at Lawndale Elementary have spent months making Christmas crafts and decorations.

Those decorations, along with other items, were sold as part of a project known as “Children Learning About and Understanding Service,” or CLAUS.

Each year the students choose a charity to support through their Christmas marketplace.

This year’s charity is “Judah’s Super Kids.”

That non profit was formed after the unexpected death earlier this year of 3 and a half year old Judah Powell.

The fund will provide toys to help children who are scared and nervous when they have to go to NMMC’s emergency room.

“We have had two of the Powell children at our school, that’s one of the reasons we chose this organization to honor this year with our fundraising efforts,” said Challenge Teacher Sally Amos.

“At this time of year we like to bring joy to our community, so we find foundations every year and we support them because it’s important to do things like this to support our community,” said Student Malak Rayyan.

Donations to “Judah’s Super Kids” can be made through the CREATE Foundation.

Judah Powell’s Dad is the pastor of Tupelo’s First Baptist Church.

Toys given to children come with a card explaining the Judah’s Super Kids Program.