Whittier High School’s library expansion received a boost this week with a $5,500 donation from the Women’s Service League.

Sedalia School District 200
Sedalia School District 200
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The donation is part of the league’s W.O.R.T.H.Y. initiative, Women Organized and Resourceful Together Helping Youth. W.O.R.T.H.Y. Chair Carol McMillin said the league is “always looking for the largest group of young people that we can assist,” in the past having purchased playground equipment and computers.

Whittier Assistant Director B.J. Curry said the school’s existing library has been expanded by about five feet and the renovated space will include comfortable chairs, places for students to charge their phones and tablets, and access to tablets so they can do research and school work.

“We’re trying to create a space where the kids will feel comfortable, like a safe zone for them to come and chill out and just relax because a lot of them don’t have that after they leave here,” Curry said. “Sometimes they just need to be able to find that place for themselves.'"

McMillin and fellow WSL member Betty Albrecht are former teachers, so they were excited that the league was presented an opportunity to improve a library. Both also are key figures with Pettis County Community Santa, and each year Whittier students provide service learning hours helping assemble and wrap gifts for families in that program.

“They have been so good and so generous with their time,” McMillin said. “They are all so approachable and fun. So we came over and asked, ‘What have you got? What do you need? What can we do?’ And this presented itself."

The league originally budgeted $4,000 for the Whittier library project, but during its May 16 meeting members learned there were additional funds available so they approved adding $1,500 to the total. The funds are proceeds from the league’s annual Cupid’s Ball event.

“Anyone who can support Cupid’s Ball is supporting projects like this,” Albrecht said.
Whittier Bilingual School-Home Liaison Melissa Magana expressed her thanks to the Women's Service League for helping create a relaxing space for students.

“Whittier is striving to become a trauma-sensitive school that is specific to the unique needs of each student,” she said. “This space, designed for us by Pastor Jim Downing of First United Methodist Church, will allow us to continue to serve our students in the best ways possible.”

In the photo: Carol McMillin, the Women's Service League's W.O.R.T.H.Y. project chair, presents a check for $5,500 to Melissa Magana, Whittier High School's Bilingual School-Home Liaison, to support the school's library expansion and renovation. Behind them, from left, are WSL members Betty Albrecht, Kim Windle, Candi Snyder, Susan Mergan and Robyn Wadley.

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