With the economic issues of today, some Ladue families struggle to keep their belongings and necessities, like cars, shelter, and supplies intact.
Junior Alex Patershuk founded a new club, “DueCare,” to make a difference for need-based families in the Ladue School District. The club focuses on enlightening the community on socioeconomic issues such as poverty that even takes place in Ladue.
“When I found out there were families in [Ladue] that can’t afford basic necessities it inspired me to start an organization that could help,” Patershuk said.
Last March, the Family Assistance Committee, began addressing the issues that families who suffered during the economic downturn faced. Emails were sent out to district parents to help raise money for the cause. This upcoming year, DueCare plans to build on those efforts by bringing attention on the current issue of some Ladue students’ hardships.
“As a member of DueCare, I help to get people involved and come up with fundraising ideas that would be a success in raising money towards the Family System Fund,” senior Annie Beath said.
The Family Assistance Committee collects the money and divides it between the need-based families in an effort to help them get back on their feet. For some families, one month of a utility bill will be paid for by DueCare funds so that the family can use their money and regain economic strength. Prom tickets, yearbooks, ACT tests and lunch money are also examples of what DueCare will help fund this year.
“This past summer we got together to prepare for the upcoming school year. We were able to go out and purchase basic school supplies such as pencils and backpacks and sort them by grade and school so that everyone would have the proper materials to succeed in the school year,” Patershuk said.
A key focus of the club is to keep everyone’s identity confidential; even as backpacks and supplies were purchased, they were bought in all different colors and patterns to avoid being recognized as a donated item. Even before the school year began, on July 30, DueCare set up free physicals in Ladue High School’s cafeteria in which all students could participate.
DueCare hopes to create fun fundraising events all students and staff will be able to participate in, as well as help organize the Winter Informal. Meetings will be held twice a month to discuss what people need, and creative ways to raise money.
“I think the idea of the club is when people think of helping others they think outside of their own world to make a difference. Even if we make a small difference with the Ladue district it’s a success,” advisor Scott Cornwell said.
