On Monday, October 31st, Augustana College President Andrea Talentino presented a check for $2,844 to the Rocky Resource Room.
The funds were raised during the college's recent post-inauguration street party. President Talentino personally chose the Rocky Resource Room as the recipient to receive the donation.
"Augustana College is committed to being a good partner and a good neighbor to Rock Island, and being able to provide these funds to the Rocky Resource Room is a great opportunity to put that commitment into action,” President Talentino said. "It's exciting to be able to collaborate in providing assistance to families, and sharing our celebration with the Quad-Cities community at the street party and seeing these funds get put to use in Rock Island is a great outcome.”
Rocky Resource Room Coordinator Kathy Lelonek is grateful to add Augustana College as a supporter of the organization. She said the funds raised at the street party will be used to purchase a variety of necessities, including toiletries, clothing, and book bags.
The Rocky Resource Room serves students at all levels of the Rock Island-Milan School District. In addition to the many supplies offered, the resource room also houses a small food pantry supported by the River Bend Food Bank.
“The Rocky Resource Room provides another layer of support for Rocky’s most vulnerable students by offering discreet and immediate help for students who have torn or inappropriate clothes, shoes that are falling apart or don’t fit, girls who unexpectedly get their periods, clothes for a new job, or socks and underwear,” Lelonek said.
Lelonek said the resource room also meets students at laundromats to provide money and laundry detergent. She said this assistance helps increase attendance by some students who may stay home when they do not have clean clothes.
President Talentino got to look around the Rocky Resource room before presenting the check to Lelonek and RIHS Principal Whitaker.
Media coverage: Dispatch-Argus>>, WQAD>>
From left to right: Kathy Lelonek, Principal Whitaker, Augustana President Talentino
