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Upper West Side School Donates Washer and Dryer to Students in Need

By Emily Frost | December 20, 2016 6:52pm
 P.S. 149, which is co-located with Success Academy Harlem 1, received a gift of clothes and a washer dryer from The Anderson School.
P.S. 149, which is co-located with Success Academy Harlem 1, received a gift of clothes and a washer dryer from The Anderson School.
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DNAinfo/Jeff Mays

UPPER WEST SIDE — A local school donated a washer, dryer, new and used clothes to a needier school in the neighborhood, officials said.

The Anderson School, a K-8 school on West 77th Street, donated the washing machine and dryer to P.S. 149, a pre-K-8 school on West 117th Street, Department of Education Superintendent Ilene Altschul said at a recent meeting of Community Education Council 3. 

Through a collaboration between the two schools, The Anderson School listened to what was on P.S. 149 Principal Claudia Aguirre's wish list and then raised money to fulfill it, Altschul said. 

The Anderson School bought the washer and dryer "so that the school could support families with washing some of their items," she added. It wasn't clear how much the units cost. 

Students at The Anderson School also brought in new and used navy-colored clothing items so that P.S. 149 students can follow the school's uniform requirement, she said. 

P.S. 149 students struggle academically and economically, data shows. 

At The Anderson School, which draws students from all over the city who apply to attend, 8 percent of students were eligible for free lunch in the 2015-16 school year. At the locally zoned P.S. 149, 88 percent of students received free lunch that same school year, state data shows. 

The Department of Education categorized P.S. 149 as a "Renewal School" in need of extra resources and attention, as well as a longer school day, after it had low academic achievement from 2012 to 2014. 

"Our partnership with the Anderson School has not only helped our families during times of need, it has had a positive impact on student attendance and enhanced our their sense of well-being," Aguirre said in an email Tuesday.

"Having access to basic items like warm socks, coats, pants, and shirts is something that our families do not take for granted and we’re grateful for the generous contribution. The biggest gift has been seeing the smiles on our students’ faces when we are able to meet their needs and provide them with a supportive learning environment." 

P.S. 149 grandparent and former PTA President President Soyna Hampton said she appreciated the collaboration.

"When schools and community work together, all things are possible," she said. "On behalf of the students and parents of P.S. 149 Sojourner Truth, we thank you."

Representatives from The Anderson School did not respond to a request for comment.