WARREN Schools adoptions aid pupils, families

Altrusa of Warren coordinates the Adopt-a-School program to help local pupils.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Jean Tunstall was standing in her kitchen late one night about nine years ago when she saw a light on in a neighbor's home and placed a call that propelled a local service organization into action.
Tunstall's request was simple -- she was baking cinnamon rolls, ran out of cinnamon and looked up the phone number of the only neighbor who appeared to be awake. It was about 1:30 a.m.
The woman she called -- a teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School -- was also up late, preparing things and gathering much needed materials for her class the next day.
The teacher, Mary Sabol, gave Tunstall the cinnamon and the two got to talking about problems facing school districts and the pupils they serve.
The conversation prompted Tunstall, now vice president of Altrusa International Inc. of Warren, to involve the organization in helping city schools. Altrusa is a women's service organization dedicated to literacy initiatives.
Tunstall's approach was twofold -- she wanted to help individual schools get supplies they were lacking, and wanted to involve local organizations, churches and businesses to help pupils, many of whom come from broken families.
Adopted school: Altrusa "adopted" Horace Mann Elementary School and has helped raise money to purchase supplies and provide services for pupils there.
Altrusa about six years ago took over coordination of the district's Adopt-a-School program, started here by local resident James Brown, a former newspaper editor.
The program pairs local organizations and businesses with individual schools to meet critical needs in the district.
Since then, Altrusa has facilitated the effort to raise money for the schools, collect supplies such as books, folders, pencils and rulers, and to provide initiatives for tutoring and literacy to promote learning.
"We do what the schools seem to need most," Tunstall said. "You can't promise you can provide everything a school might want, but you can promise to do what you can."
Others involved: Adopters in recent years have included Realty One, First Presbyterian Church and United Autoworkers Local 1112. Tunstall said Humility of Mary Partners just signed on to adopt Secrest Elementary.
All of the district's 17 schools have been "adopted" -- some more than once. Nine or ten organizations and businesses were involved when Altrusa first got involved, and Tunstall said about 32 participate now.
Area parochial schools also benefit from the adoption program, she noted.
Jefferson Elementary Principal Camille Pinkard said the Book Nook on Elm Road, Grace A.M.E. Church and UAW Local 1112 have stepped up to help pupils in this southwest side school.
About 90 percent of Jefferson pupils participate in the school's free and reduced lunch program, Pinkard said, noting that school adopters have provided food, clothing and supplies for disadvantaged pupils and their families.
"I think the program is beneficial to our community, our children and our staff," she explained.
Book Nook owners Clyde and Jean Bolinger, who were unavailable for comment, read to Jefferson pupils once a week, have donated books and sponsored other programs.
"They're a regular part of our building," she added. "The kids recognize them."
Adoption ceremony: Tunstall said Judge Thomas Swift of Trumbull County Probate Court holds an official ceremony to award adoptions of schools.
The adoption program's tutoring initiative benefits pupils, many of whom have no one to talk to, Tunstall said.
"The program has made a big difference in the lives of children in school here," she explained. "It gives them an incentive to stay in school and lets them know there are people who care."
Altrusa was established in 1917 in Nashville. It now has over 14,000 members, including men, with chapters in 20 nations.
The organization is open for membership. It meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Warren Women's Club offices on North Park Avenue.
To get involved or for information about the adoption program, call Tunstall at 372-5525 or Altrusa president Stella Sroka at 856-2217.