Sumner County students are giving back through a new school program

Sumner County Schools robotics students show off prosthetics they created.  (Photo contributed by Sumner County Schools)

The Sumner County Schools Board of Education provided an overview Tuesday of a new district initiative that will allow students to build up their career and technical skills while giving back to the community.

Communications Coordinator Kelly Flood said during Tuesday’s regular board meeting that the initiative, dubbed “Sumner Gives Back,” will involve several projects geared toward serving the community, such as growing food for families in need and constructing beds for some of the district’s 302 homeless students.

“These beds are very important for some of our students who are sleeping on the floor every night,” she said. “We will tie in our project with our elementary and middle school students. We have middle school students in sewing programs so they can monogram sheets, and then our elementary students can create little book baskets and maybe pick out their favorite books and put them in a little basket for them so they can have something next to their beds.”

In addition, she said, students will get a chance to improve their welding skills by building ramps, railings, and grab bars to “help meet the needs of students and families who can benefit.” Students in cosmetology will also provide free haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and facials to nursing home and rehabilitation residents, while students in culinary arts will make and serve Veterans Day lunches for current and former military members.

“Not only do [our culinary arts students] buy the food and prepare the food, but they also serve the food, so they do it all,” Flood said.

Director of Schools for Instruction Frankie Skinner added that the initiative will involve the district’s animal science program, where students will groom pets and give away dog treats prepared by culinary arts students. Students in robotics will also build prosthetics for community members, animals, and students, while students in auto mechanics will provide free oil changes for veterans and first responders, among other projects.

“They’re very professional and know exactly what they’re doing,” Skinner said of students in auto mechanics.  

District leaders said the technology and social media company Meta has “expressed interest” in providing funding for projects under the initiative, but did not provide any further specifics on funding moving forward.

“This is our opportunity to go out and give back to the community,” Director of Schools Scott Langford said of the initiative.