B.E.S.T. Academy Supports Families This Holiday Season

Monthlong Holiday Support for Families

B.E.S.T. Academy team members demonstrated a strong commitment to community this November by organizing a month-long effort to support students and their families during the holiday season.

Weekend Food Baskets Strengthen Family Stability

Throughout the month, team members assembled 17 weekend food baskets stocked with breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. This was done to help ensure students had access to nourishing meals outside the school week. The baskets offered families added stability at a time when needs can be heightened.

Thanksgiving Meal Baskets Offer Additional Holiday Support

The initiative expanded ahead of Thanksgiving. Nineteen families received full holiday meal baskets that included the ingredients needed to prepare dinner and dessert. Staff donations were central to the effort. Team members contributed food items as “payment” for dress down days, coordinated raffles, provided financial support, and volunteered time to pack and prepare boxes each week.

Community Donations and Staff Participation

The project was led by the Related Services Team, which developed the concept and organized every stage of the process. The team created Amazon wish lists to meet specific needs, used social media to encourage additional donations, and oversaw the logistics from start to finish.

Continuing Holiday Support for Families in December

With strong participation and sustained support, the initiative will continue throughout December, with families receiving a pasta dinner basket in the coming weeks.

Strengthening School and Family Connections

B.E.S.T. Academy serves students with autism and early language needs, and staff members note that efforts like this enhance the sense of connection between the school and its families. The generosity of the school community helped make the holidays brighter for many households.

“We are proud of our staff for embodying the values of compassion and connection,” said Jennifer Johnson, executive director, B.E.S.T. Academy. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to making the holidays brighter for our families.”