Ray of Hope Foundation looks to brighten holidays for needy students

Students show up every week in pajamas at Manch Elementary School because their families were evicted from their home or had to leave abruptly for various reasons, without time to pack their belongings.

Life is tough for these students, but Manch, 4351 N. Lamont St., makes sure they can focus on only one thing while at school: learning.

The school is able to clothe the children in new uniforms and provide other essentials, such as socks, underwear, school supplies and food thanks, in part, to the Ray of Hope Foundation.

The nonprofit foundation provides support to five elementary schools: Manch, Parson, 4100 Thom Blvd.; Lowman, 4225 N. Lamont St.; Bunker, 6350 Peak Drive; and Clyde C. Cox, 3855 Timberlake Drive.

Ray of Hope is accepting holiday donations ---- toys, games, hats, gloves and gift cards ---- through Dec. 12 at The Office Squad, 7495 W. Azure Drive, and at the foundation's office, 2906 Lake East Drive. Donations also can be made online at rayofhopelv.org.

The foundation's director, Jeri Fisher, started the group five years ago after she "adopted" a class of 18 kids who "were in dire need of a Christmas" at Manch.

She brought food and gifts to the students, many of whom never had celebrated the holiday. Several of the kids, said Fisher, held their gifts close and refused to unwrap them so they could have them on Christmas morning.

"You could see it's something they're not used to," Fisher said.

Wanting to help more students, Fisher set up the foundation with the intention of helping as many kids as possible. The next year, she donated 250 gifts and underwear, socks and toothbrushes.

The kids have come to call Fisher "Mrs. Santa" because she always is bringing gifts when her red SUV pulls up.

Manch principal Diane Lewis said the foundation has improved achievement at her school because kids don't have to worry about needs between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

"Ray of Hope fills in the gaps for us," Lewis said. "Where other schools can typically depend on parents to provide (supplies) ... our families simply aren't able to.

"Ray of Hope helps us take away all those external factors that are working against them and let them be the students," Lewis said. "They know they're poor, and that's kind of sad, but they know they're not poor at school. They know their job is to learn and we'll take care of everything else for them."

Ramon Sillas, 10, is a fifth-grader who has directly benefited from the foundation's support. Ramon recalled coming to school in third grade without his school-required uniform of khaki or blue pants and a red, white or navy polo shirt because he didn't have any clean clothes.

Ramon, like all students who come to school without a uniform, went to see the school's behavior strategist, Richard Williams, to get a new set of clothes and any other necessities.

Students in need also may receive food for the weekends.

De'Naisha Owens, a fifth-grader with four sisters all supported by a single mom, said her family relies on those packages of noodles, tuna fish, popcorn and juice to get by.

The school plans to hold a gathering for its most needy families in December, when parents will be able to pick out toys they can save for the holidays, unbeknownst to the kids.

It's not always the fancy toys that get these kids excited, either. Lewis and Williams said they have seen kids jumping up and down because they received a pack of underwear.

For more information about the Ray of Hope Foundation, call 485-0656 or visit rayofhopelv.org.

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.