E-M FCCLA Chapter Collects Children’s Books for Children’s Justice Clinic
The Elmwood-Murdock FCCLA Chapter recently completed their Chapter Community Service project as part of the FCCLA National Programs in Action. The chapter decided to focus on a project that supported abused and neglected children.  They partnered with UNL College of Law’s Children’s Justice Clinic to collect new and gently used children’s books for the program. UNL law students use the children’s books to connect with the children so they can better represent their needs in court.

FCCLA members collected books, and also asked community members to help with their efforts, including Elmwood and Murdock United Methodist Church members. Together with community members, the FCCLA members collected 469 children’s books to donate to the Children’s Justice Clinic.

Nine Elmwood-Murdock FCCLA chapter members participated in the book drive. FCCLA Chapter President Harrison Koehn said it was one of the chapter’s most successful and most rewarding projects. “It’s meaningful to collect books for kids who really need them,” Koehn said.

FCCLA member Dakota Glasshoff coordinated the children’s book drive. She will complete a presentation about the chapter’s project at FCCLA District STAR competition on January 20. Seven Elmwood Murdock FCCLA members will compete at the District STAR competition. From there, the presentations could be selected for FCCLA State Competition in April.

Dakota had the opportunity to meet with the Children’s Justice Clinic director when she delivered the books. “Learning more about the program made me proud that our FCCLA chapter helped to support their work, “she said. “There are a lot of family programs we could have chosen to help with our chapter project – but this one really helps kids who need it the most across the state.” 

Elmwood Murdock FCCLA chapter members who assisted with the children’s book drive include (front row, left to right) Brooke Goudie; Hannah Petersen; Averi Hogue, Vice President and District Representative; (back row, left to right) Will Fox; Harrison Koehn, Chapter President; Michael Hynes; Dakota Glasshoff, Community Service Coordinator; Kaia Sacco-Rohde, VP and Historian; Charles Cawley; Secretary/Treasurer.