Fourth Graders Support The Welman Project

By Whitney Truax

“What is this?” “Where does this go?” “What’s this considered?” These are some of the questions fourth graders asked at The Welman Project, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit that distributes surplus and donated materials for creative use in schools.

The collaboration between the Class of 2032 and The Welman Project was born out of a desire to enrich students' understanding of community service while benefiting the School and the broader Fort Worth educational landscape. Initiated by Kelly Lanier Tierce ’93, the JK-12 Service Learning Coordinator, the project aimed to instill a sense of purpose in students while supporting the cause of repurposing surplus school supplies and other teaching items. The Welman Project focuses on “filling a classroom, not a landfill.”

“We knew we wanted to do a service project when we moved from the Lower School to the Village, and we wanted it to be authentic for the students,” Tierce said. “Our connection with Welman allowed students to help their current and former Lower School teachers determine what to pack and move while simultaneously helping other teachers in the larger Fort Worth community by donating items they would no longer use. One of the things I love about The Welman Project is they allow younger students to come to their facility and do hands-on volunteer work. “Students don’t just drop off a box; they learn what happens with the donation.”

Fourth Grade Teachers Kelly Jenkins, Courtney Corbeille Krauss ’06 and Sara McCullough took the lead, inviting Lauren Watson, Welman’s Community Engagement Enthusiast, to share insights about the organization’s mission and what items could be donated. Watson shared that Welman takes just about anything – other than live animals and clothing! Fourth grade classes were then paired with a grade level or support faculty member that they would assist with packing.

Teachers were already busy cleaning out their classrooms, but the fourth graders came in enthusiastically, diving into the task and boxing up bulletin board borders, construction paper, boxes of crayons, and various school essentials. The camaraderie experienced during packing was the fun part: Students had the opportunity to help their former teachers, and teachers got to catch up with their past students. After the packing, it was time to take a field trip to The Welman Project. Each fourth grader loaded the bus with a “bus buddy”: a box of supplies to donate.

Students toured the facility, unloaded their boxes, and rolled up their sleeves to start the organization process. The FWCD fourth graders unpacked and sorted every box the School brought in and earned high praise from The Welman Project’s team.

“That day, I saw students stepping up and being excited about helping others,” Tierce said. “They loved sorting the donations – some students never looked up, taking their jobs seriously and working hard the entire time.”

As their visit ended, the students surveyed their donations and the work they had completed. It was evident that the service project had left a lasting impact on the students, their teachers, and The Welman Project. With over 100 boxes of school supplies donated, the partnership between Fort Worth Country Day and The Welman Project proved to be a resounding success, promising future collaboration.