Ladue Family Assistance Program Helps Needy Students

Wine and cheese will usually bring women together, but add jewels and the party starts.

Ladue ladies and friends turned out Wednesday Night at Deer Creek Coffee for a wine, cheese, and silver jewelry shopping event hosted by the Ladue Family Assistance Program.

Program co-chairs Diane Patershuk and Tricia Soncasie thought this event would be a good idea to raise funds for families in the Ladue School District who are finding that day to day living can be a bit of a struggle.

They enlisted district moms Susan Holt and Laura Feder, who happen to beSilpada representatives, to host the event. Tempted with the aforementioned wine, cheese and silver jewels, women filled Deer Creek Coffee, stood before mirrors and pirouetted holding up earrings, necklaces and bracelets. And they opened their pocketbooks.

“Last March we found a need in our school district among our families,” Patershuk said. “We started the Ladue Family Assistance Program and, by sending letters, funds started coming in and we raised about $10,000.

“We worked with the Special Services Department of the school district and found out there was a need,” Patershuk said. “All the teachers can see this. It’s in different schools throughout the district. Today I approved money for a teacher to buy cupcakes for a student who did not have money to celebrate a birthday. This summer, we sent 10 grade schools to go to Ladue Summer Camp.”

Funds are used to send children on field trips, pay utility bills, groceries, and gas.

Committee member Kelly Shervitz arranged for Logan College to do free physicals for student athletes at the high school so they could get in physicals for fall, winter and spring sports.

“It wasn’t just need-based,” Patershuk said. “We allowed everyone to come which made it nice for everyone from the wealthy to the not-so-wealthy. We've also collected breakfast items, put them in bags, and stuck them in backpacks of children who are not getting breakfast at home because they can’t afford groceries.

“In this economy, you don’t know,” she said. “People in the biggest houses can be just as needy. We’ve gotten donations from $1,000 to $10.”

Other ways the program helps are:

• The Bask Program which allows one mother to go to work, and another younger sibling is able to “bask” allowing the older sibling to participate in a morning program.
• New clothing items for a student.
• Paying for school lunches.
• “Due Care” Club – a high school club helping to raise funds and help with projects as needed.
• Proving backpacks and school supplies.
• ACT testing fees.

Other members of the committee are Nancy Weinrich, Kate Clark, Elizabeth Allen, Susan Figenshau, Kelly Gaines, Janice Laycob, Shelli Netherton, LeighAnn Allen, Connie Dunkle, Ellen Wilkinson, Tracy Donovan, and Lynda Rater. 

Anyone interested in joining, please contact Patershuk at dpatershuk@gmail.com

For those who could not attend, On line shopping is on line by clicking here.or by calling Holt (314-974-7929) or Feder (314-330-7236).