The Brightside: Stuff-the-Bus, community initiative
SEAFORD, Del. – Churches, educators, and the community all come together with their own priorities, but one common goal is How to bridge the gap between community and school. With the launch of a recent “Stuff-the-bus” event, a precedent has been set to work towards that goal.
“Events like this and other things just really help us bring those sometimes isolated pieces together,” says Dr. Susan Harrison, the Principal at Seaford High School. Those pieces are community and school, which community leaders and educators say are two important entities that only succeed together.
Pastor Mike Greenlief with Atlanta Road Alliance Church teamed up with Unified Seaford, a religious organization that encompasses multiple churches in hopes of further connecting the community. “It’s a way to just say Hey teachers, we love you we appreciate everything you do, and understand that everything is expensive these days so we’re just trying to help out where we can as a community.”
So they recently put on what’s called “stuff-the-bus,” where local churches collect school and classroom supplies to donate to teachers on a bus! Which educators like Dr. Harrison say is much needed. “So many teachers have come through, they’ve been so appreciative of being able to shop the bus, it’s been fantastic.” She adds, “We know that teachers work longer than contract hours and this is one way just for us to say thank you, we see you, we recognize you and we appreciate you.”
However, from what we’re told, this event was just the start of the bigger challenge of cohesively finding a way to bridge the gap between community and, education. “Trying to find ways, how can we be a better presence and positive enforcement into our community and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish here together,” says Pastor Mike. “It could be a meet the teams night, supporting the teachers in another area, supporting our athletes, supporting the student body in general.”
Pastor Mike tells us it’s a personal mission for him to support those educating the next generation, and in turn, supporting the next generation as a whole even outside of the classroom. “If a community is going to run and be functional the way it should be, it should be together. I have a saying many people have the saying, We can do more together than one can do alone.” Pastor Mike adds, “To me it’s not always about the religious side of things, it’s about bringing people together and loving on one another because that’s what we should be doing together no matter what the scenario is, we should be caring for one another.”
It’s a mission Dr. Harrison echoes through her work as an educator. “How do I show students that what you do at school impacts the community and what you do in the community impacts school.” Dr. Harrison goes on to say, “How do I keep building transparent communication and be vulnerable with the community in what it is I need as a principal and what students need.”
Although this is just one small part of what organizers say is their greater purpose, we’re told these events must spark change in their communities. “It’s easy to critique things, let’s join in and do the right things and make our communities safer and better,” says Pastor Mike. “Stuff-the-bus is just a launching pad to greater things.”
We’re told this will become an annual event every year before school begins, but Pastor Mike, along with Unified Seaford are working to engage the community in other activities, especially education-related activities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Harrison tells us they’re always looking for help whether through tutoring, translators, or other volunteer opportunities, and the event was able to initiate that conversation with other community members.
