District 135 Donates No Longer Needed Furniture to Schools

Orland School District 135 is doing its part to help its needy counterparts around the globe. At its July 24 meeting, the board of education adopted a resolution to dispose of school property that has become obsolete and no longer needed by the district.

“We’re glad that District 135 is able to help schools that don’t have the money to buy new furniture and equipment,” said Board President Joe La Margo. “The desks and other pieces of furniture that the district donated are still usable and not ready for the landfill,” he said.

School district officials advertised the equipment being available on websites and through local churches with the receiving organization being responsible for picking up whatever they wanted.

St. Gall and St. Ailbe Schools accepted the offer and took what they needed for their buildings. New Faith Baptist Church International, in Matteson, Illinois, took a majority of the items.

New Faith Baptist is part of the Joseph Assignment Global Initiative, a 501c3 organization created as a global humanitarian organization to help people living in poverty.

“New Faith Baptist Church is part of a mission to build a new school in Liberia, Africa,” La Margo explained. “The no longer needed furniture from Orland Park will help furnish a new school that was destroyed during civil unrest,” he explained.

Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, one of the initiative’s corporate sponsors, will provide transportation of the items to Liberia, Africa once the school is completed.

“It’s nice that the no longer needed equipment will be put to good use,” said District 135 Superintendent Dr. Janet Stutz. “School District 135 is committed to ensuring that its students have the tools and equipment they need to learn in the classroom, some of which are different than what we’ve used it the past.”