Carson City Schools seeks gift card donations to help students in need

Hannah Etchison, special projects coordinator and liaison for McKinney-Vento and Foster Care, holds gift cards.
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Now through August 15, the Carson City School District’s McKinney-Vento Students in Transition program is requesting gift card donations valued between $20-$100 to help assist pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade students in transition. Students in transition are those individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence including children and youth sharing housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reasons.

Caring and compassionate community members and businesses are encouraged to donate gift cards from local establishments for the school district to purchase clothing, hygiene items, shoes and other essentials. Needed gift cards include those from Smith’s, Walmart, ARCO, Ross, Food Maxx, Visa Gift Cards and gift cards to any fast food chains.

The request for gift cards is designed to assist in managing the storage of various goods and products at the McKinney-Vento office. These monetary donations are preferred to physical items as student needs and sizes are constantly changing. The gift cards will primarily be used by the McKinney-Vento office to purchase needed items; however, occasionally, some gift cards will be given directly to the students and families in need.

“Starting the school year with gift cards allows us as a school district to support students with both essential supplies and fresh outfits that help them feel confident and ready to learn,” said Hannah Etchison, special projects coordinator and liaison for McKinney-Vento and Foster Care with the Carson City School District. “It’s important that every student begins the year with what they need—and what makes them feel good.”

Students in transition often live in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations. Other primary nighttime residence may be a designated public space not designed for regular sleeping such as cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings. Students in transition may also include migratory children or unaccompanied youth who are not in physical custody of a parent or guardian.

The school’s McKinney-Vento program helps these students receive an appropriate public education as well as the following services provided.

• Enrollment in school immediately, even if students and families are lacking documents or if the student’s situation changes
• Transportation to and from school, if needed
• Free school meals
• Referrals to outside resources
• Support with school supplies, school fees or sports fees
• Academic tracking and interventions
• Assistance in obtaining required documents such as birth certificates
• Removal of other barriers that may impact educational progress
• Scholarships and help with graduation needs
• Summer programs

Donated gift cards can be dropped off to Carson City School District McKinney-Vento, 618 W. Musser Street, Carson City, Nevada 89703. Gift card pick-up is available upon request. Donation receipts are also available upon request. For more information, please contact Hannah Etchison, 775-283-1537, hetchison@carson.k12.nv.us.

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