Winter weather in Nebraska can be harsh, and the students in the JAG program at Anselmo-Merna Public Schools have organized a winter clothing drive to help their fellow student-aged Nebraskans. The drive they have organized runs through January 10, 2025.
Juniors Sage Mason, Kayden Record, and Brayden Wilson explained the project, “So we’ve got a couple drop boxes set up and it’s just hats, gloves, coats, anything for young ones that might need it this wintertime because it gets pretty harsh in Nebraska. We’ve set up flyers all around the square in Broken Bow and there’s multiple drop boxes in Anselmo, Merna, and Broken Bow.”
Winter coats, hats, gloves, socks, shoes, and boots collected will go to the school’s Angel Tree. Donation locations include the Tumbleweed Cafe, Prairie Eyecare, and Trotter’s Whoa & Go West in Broken Bow; Trotter’s Whoa & Go and the school in Merna, and at The Market and Mill in Anselmo.
The JAG program, or Jobs for America’s Graduates, helps students overcome challenges in order to achieve personal and career success after high school.
“A post-secondary type of plan, you know, a better map so to speak of what they want to do after high school,” explained advisor Butch Faulkenberry.
Nebraska became one of 39 states affiliated with the national organization in 2019, supported by United Way of the Midlands in collaboration with state agencies and participating school districts.
Faulkenberry said that in the classroom, students in JAG learn about subjects like cover letters, resumes, job interview practice. Trips for college visits, job fairs, and career information are also a part of the JAG road map. The JAG website cites a minimum of 37 skills taught that are valued in the workplace and community.
In addition to classroom learning, Faulkenberry said the students are also in charge of guiding project-based learning endeavors. The winter clothing drive is a result of the students seeing a need and pursuing a solution.
Faulkenberry said that at the semester at Anselmo-Merna, the JAG program had 27 kids involved as well as 19 8th graders. He also anticipated the participation of additional 7th graders soon as well.
Our full conversation with Faulkenberry, Mason, Record, and Wilson can be found below. To learn more about JAG, visit this link.
