Many educators with a deep desire to help children never lose their dedication – even when they are no longer teachers.
Look no further than the activities and generosity of the Bartholomew Area Retired Teachers Association (BARTA).
On Dec. 15, the organization will begin tabulating how many volunteer hours their 271 active members have given to the community, mostly in school-related activities. Last year, over 23,000 hours were contributed, BARTA president Janice Montgomery said.
Late this month, the 2024 figures will be sent to the Indiana Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) in Plainfield, where they will be combined with volunteer hours contributed by similar chapters located across the state. The total will serve as a lobbying tool when talking to state legislators about calculating possible cost-of-living pension increases, the IRTA website states.
BARTA has recently selected the final grant recipient of 2024 in their annual “Pennies from Heaven” program. During each of their quarterly meetings, a collection is taken to provide financial help to Bartholomew County organizations.
While the association’s website describes these contributions as “loose change money,” BARTA members won’t nickle and dime the nonprofit recipients.
“We fund quite a bit for an organization no larger than we are,” Montgomery said.
A $300 grant recipient announced during BARTA’S final meeting of the year is the Community Center of Hope’s early-learning programs: Infants/Toddlers/Two’s, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten.
In September, the organization provided $300 into providing medical supplies for school nurses in both the Bartholomew Consolidated and Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools. The money was split evenly between the two districts, Montgomery said. As part of that same effort, the retired teachers also collected clothing and socks for children in pre-school through 12th grade, she said.
There is one annual collection in May that tends to raise the most money every year, the BARTA president said. The backpack food programs provides kids from low-income households healthy and easy-to-prepare food for weekends and vacations when free and reduced school meals are not available.
In the past, the retired teachers association has been able to initiate challenges to other organizations serving youth to match their contribution to the Backpack program, according to the organization’s website.
Due to the impact of inflation on limited budgets, $300 was provided to Love Chapel for food assistance to families that was reported in February, long-time association member Cheryl Zuckschwerdt-Ellsbury said.
There were also teacher grants that will be made later this month and in the spring, as well as scholarships, Montgomery said.
