A back to school giveaway is set for Saturday in Wheeling, sponsored by the recently formed Men of Change group in Wheeling.
The giveaway is scheduled from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will be held at the corner of 15th and Jacob Street in Wheeling and will feature bookbags and backpacks filled with pencils, papers, folders and all manner of school supplies students might need.
“There are no eligibility requirements. It’s open to anyone who is in need and wants to show up,” said Hayden Cook, a member of the Men of Change group. “Normally for this type of event, we’d set up more of a block-party type event with music and make it a celebration.
“But we can’t have that (this year), so we’ve decided that a drive-thru style event was the best way to get people in and out as quickly as possible while still being able to provide this service.”
Cook did note that people who came on foot will still be taken care of, but this was the easiest—and safest way given the conditions and pandemic restrictions—of helping the most students quickly.
Also included in the event will be free haircuts provided on-site on a first come, first serve basis by Moor Cutz of Wheeling
Cook explained the Men of Change is, in essence, “a group of guys throughout our community trying to help out.”
He said they’ve met multiple times since June, with this giveaway being the first planned event of what figures to be many.
It was Ron Scott Jr. who initially contacted Cook and informed him about the group.
“We sat down and had a lunch meeting, probably 12 to 13 guys, and started to hash things out, things we felt we could do to help the community.”
Other groups helping out with resources or supplies include: Zavolta Law Offices, Stradwick’s Fade Cave, By Any Means & More, Folklore, Mr. Owens Brown, the Wheeling Elks, the YWCA, as well as OVCARE.
Making Youth a Priority
The Men of Change’s mission is to “empower, uplift, support and educate our community.”
That’s a mission Cook can get behind. It’s similar in premise to a non-profit group he recently created aimed at helping disadvantaged area youth to receive the help they need, both in and outside of the classroom.
Cook recently closed the books on a successful inaugural season of the Grand View League basketball league that was held at the Highlands Sports Complex for boys and girls in both middle and high schools.
The league drew rave reviews from players and parents alike, but its other purpose was to serve as an introduction to Cook’s major initiative, a non-profit organization.
The group’s name is the Grand View Corporation, and it will soon be granted its 501(c)(3) status.
It’s so named after the Grandview Manor section of Wheeling where Cook grew up.
He worked hard through high school and beyond to become the successful teacher, coach, and leader that he is today.
He also knows it was and can be a struggle and wants to help to ensure that young kids and students don’t view finances or other difficulties as roadblocks to achievement.
Initially, the GVC aims to utilize Cook’s skills and those of him education peers, to assist a number of kids in an after-school setting.
“We’ll work with counselors and principals to identify the kids that would benefit from intervention, more than what can be offered in the school setting.”
Being a teacher and parent himself, that intervention will be for a limited number of kids initially as the GVC grows.
Helping Where It’s Needed Most
There will be no cost for these students to receive assistance either. Not every family has the resources to afford private tutoring or after-school educational centers that are available throughout the valley.
Cook wants to ensure that doesn’t hold back any child’s future potential.
“The truth of the matter is, those resources aren’t available for certain families, but we can provide that to kids and help them bridge that achievement gap,” Cook said. “And we can do it without costing the family anything other than their trust.
“That’s all we’re asking, is to pay us in trust and we’ll do what’s best for your child.”
As GVC grows, Cook is envisioning it having its own facility, likely in East Wheeling, where students to come after school and receive the help they needed as well as instruction in a number of areas.
“Ideally we have it in East Wheeling for a number of reasons,” Cook said. “That’s where I grew up and it’s very special to me. And it’s a place where you have some kids who still need some help.”
Cook said he’s looked at a couple of buildings there that would be ideal, but that’s big picture, further down the five-year plan thinking. Right now, it’s about getting the kids the assistance.
Still, looking ahead Cook said he could see possibly working in conjunction with the teacher education programs at the local universities to have some of their young educators to be come and assist with the students.
Help the Kids, Help the Families
While helping area students is Grand View’s primary focus, Cook isn’t trying to limit its scope. As an educator, he knows schools, and teachers in particular, are being asked to do more and more, taking on more than just the role of instructor.
“The school systems sometimes have to take on too much because they are expected to do all of these things and in only a 6-7 hour window,” Cook said.
“That’s not a lot of time to correct all these ills of society. It’s a very difficult job to do, especially in an elementary school setting where you might have 25-30 kids per classroom.”
That’s why it’s Cook’s goal to work with both the families and the schools.
A student may be going through a tough time because their financial situation at home isn’t ideal. It’s hard for a kid to remain focused on learning when there are real problems waiting at home like food, electricity or perhaps even shelter.
“Maybe we can work to help the family out as well,” Cook said. “Help them secure employment, whatever it may be. It can be a huge problem because you might see a kid who appears to be not paying attention, but it’s because his mind is elsewhere, worrying about what he’s going to eat; will I be safe when I get home.
“Until we can address all those issues, it’s hard to educate the student so that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Cook believes the most important thing is establishing a relationship with the young people. If you can build that relationship, that trust, then they know you care and then together you can work on battling all those other issues.
“The first thing is you have to form that positive relationship,” Cook admitted.
Other Planned Events
Grand View is butting together its own back to school cash giveaway.
There is one top prize of $250 and five $100 prizes for students, along with one $100 for teachers.
The rules to enter are as follows:
- Follow The Grand View Corporation on FB
- Like the post detailing the giveaway
- Submit a video (two minutes or less), or essay (250 words or less) via DM or email to thegvcorp@gmail.com
- Explain why you should be chosen and what you would do with money
- Open to any Ohio County student or teacher that attends or works at a public, parochial, or private school
- Creativity is encouraged! Make a Tik Tok video, a song or poem.
- Contest ends Friday at 11:59 p.m. EST.
- Share the post and tag a friend to be entered to win a $50 gift card.
“We know times are rough and this is just a way to try and help a few people out, plus, have the students create something to get their brains geared toward school.
“We want them to be creative in telling us what they will be using the money for.”
Cook noted the GWC will have another project similar at the end of September and October that’s in the works.
For more information, or to get involved, check out the above linked Facebook pages for both the Men of Change and the Grand View Corporation.
