Candy money to go to school project
Staff writer
Profits from this year’s Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll sale will be used to help pay for communication devices at Marion Elementary School.
When the organization found out the school was looking to install communication boards on the playground for nonverbal students, members thought it would be a good cause for Tootsie Roll profits, Knights member Tim Baxa said.
The Tootsie Roll sale happens the second weekend in October. Member organizations give most of the money raised to help children with intellectual disabilities.
A $1,250 check already is on its way. It will be given through Marion Advancement Campaign, which chose the communication device as one of its six projects this year.
The Knights found out that MAC had established a fund for the communication board and that it had obtained up to $2,000 in matching funds.
Baxa described the device as a giant board with pictures of such things as bathrooms, swing sets, and other places children might want to go.
“When a kid needs to go to the bathroom, they go over and touch the bathroom picture on the board, or if they want to play on the swing set, they touch the picture of a swing set,” Baxa said.
The Knights have used previous years’ profits to fund an accessible swing in Central Park, pay tuition for Project Search at Tabor College, and pay for respite care for children with special needs.