By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Like many teachers, Erica Slough often sees students in her classroom who struggle with daily issues that most Bowling Green students don’t have to worry about. They don’t have the basic toiletries, clothing or school supplies they need.
So Slough, a high school English teacher, came up with the Bobcat Basics program to provide supplies to students in need.
“They do a good job of pretending to be OK. They don’t want to talk about it. But we see kids who are in need and we don’t have anywhere to turn to,” Slough said. “This is a much needed program.”
It might be that their families can’t afford to keep supplies of shampoo, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, or notebooks. It may be the family has suffered a job loss, or a disaster such as a fire, or has a more ongoing crisis.
“If they don’t have their basic needs met, how are they going to focus on academics?” Slough said. “They are thinking about survival. We want to help them out the best we can.”
The plan is to supply the Bobcat Basics program by asking parents to donate items and by working with student organizations to collect donations from businesses. Student groups will also be in charge of keeping track of the inventory and making sure the program is stocked.
“It’s set up for students to help students,” Slough said.
But that is as far as the students and community will be involved, since the program must be discreet so students in need feel comfortable picking up items.
“This is for the teenagers,” Slough said.
Students will be approached by their guidance counselors, referred by their teachers, or questioned if they receive reduced cost lunches. “We do have a significant amount on that list,” she said.
They will be called down to the Bobcat Basics room during study hall. “People get called down for different reasons all the time,” Slough said. The students can pick out the items that they need, bag them up, and put them in their locker without anyone knowing.
BGHS art teacher Lloyd Triggs, who designed a logo for the Bobcat Basics program, said he liked how discreet the program was and how it gave the community an opportunity to help.
“It seemed like a good fit for the community,” Triggs said.
While the program will start out offering toiletries, some Bobcat school clothing and school supplies, Triggs is hoping it can he expanded in the future to help students with some classroom costs that they can’t meet.
“We see a lot of students who come through the art department, that when we ask them to purchase supplies, they can’t,” he said.
To begin with, Bobcat Basics organizers hope to collect the following toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, toilet paper, Band-aids, Kleenex, body wash, face wash, soap, baby powder, sanitary pads (panty liners, regular, heavy and overnight), tampons (light, regular, super, super plus), chapstick and lotion.
The following school supplies will also be collected: pencils, lined paper, pens, backpacks, binders, calculators, folders and erasers.
Anyone wanting to help may drop off donations in the high school office or email Slough at eslough@bgcs.k12.oh.us.
