The Oakland County Chapter of The Links, Incorporated hosted its annual Festival of Giving celebration for approximately 600 Pontiac Middle School students, Dec. 16.

Students were treated to refreshments from the Links cookie, ice cream and nacho stations, face painting, dancing with Santa and shopping for family at a free gift store, according to an email from Trudy Gallant-Stokes, Oakland County Links publicity chair.

The Oakland County Links sponsors programs for Pontiac Middle School students throughout the year, including STEAM activities, tutoring and field trips.

For more information, visit www.oaklandcountylinks.org.

Kids First Initiative delivers holiday STEAM packs to elementary students in Pontiac and Lake Orion

Kids First Initiative delivered more than 300 holiday STEAM packs to students at all Pontiac elementary schools and one elementary school in Lake Orion, to keep students engaged, creative, and learning at home during the winter break.

The initiative was made possible through a $20,000 investment from General Motors, according to a press release.

The packs included slime, glow sticks, color activity sheets, a holiday card, an LED marble, and a STEAM Sight Words word search and puzzle.

“This initiative shows what’s possible when corporate leadership and community come together,” said Richard D. Bell, Founder and Executive Director of Kids First Initiative.

The Kids First Initiative team and volunteers assembled the packs during a community packing party Dec. 17, at Panera Bread in Bloomfield Hills, and deliveries to schools began Dec. 18.

For more information, visit www.kidsfirstinitiative.org.

Holly Area Schools seeks community support for Fueling Kids’ Futures

Holly Area Schools encourages the community to continue supporting Fueling Kids’ Futures, formerly known as Blessings in a Backpack, a community-based program that provides a bag of food each Friday during the school year for eligible children to take home for the weekends. The students receive breakfast and lunch at school during the week, according to a press release.

Fueling Kids’ Futures is a “neighbor-helping-neighbor” program that relies on community funding and volunteers who pack bags filled with non-perishable food for the weekend for school-age children in need.

Several Southeast Michigan school districts participate in the program administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester.

“Holly Area Schools is extremely proud and thankful to continue partnering with Fueling Kids’ Futures to fight food insecurity together and help every student stay fed and ready to learn,” said Scott Roper, Holly Area Schools superintendent.

So far this year, more than 300 Holly Area Schools students have received a bag of food each Friday to take home for the weekend, according to the release.

Donations can be made online at www.fuelingkidsfutures.org, clicking on the donate button, and selecting the school district.