NEW ORLEANS – Last year, several Lake Forest Charter School seventh grade students had an idea – to start a program to make the world a better place.
The Better Future Program (BFP) initially started as a blog that included homework help, healthy recipes, study tips, student artwork, writing and more. Over the past year, the site has been visited by students internationally, from the U.S. to Ireland and Brazil with nearly 4,000 unique visitors and 58,220 plus page views.
Eventually the group evolved into community outreach, including The Eye See You Project, with the mission to donate reading glasses to homeless shelters, as reading glasses are one of the most needed items.
Recently, the group has dedicated its efforts to collecting glasses for Hurricane Harvey victims. The students are asking that fellow students donate $1, buy a pair of $1 glasses at a local dollar store to donate or donate a gently used pair of glasses at any strength. The class that collects the most will win a pizza party.
“We are so incredibly proud of our amazing students and their dedication to giving to the community,” said Lake Forest Charter CEO Mardele Early. “At Lake Forest, we realize the importance of not only succeeding academically, but becoming a successful and contributing member of society. Our Eagles are leaders and givers and these young ladies exemplify that.”
The highest performing K-8 school in Orleans Parish, Lake Forest Charter School is a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School and 2009, 2016 National Title I Distinguished School Recipient. Lake Forest provides a nurturing environment for children from diverse backgrounds and facilitates maximum student achievement through a rigorous, accelerated academic program, ultimately enhancing each student’s ability to become a global, contributing citizen, school reps said.
