T-Bird Nest, formerly known as Thunder Threads, will receive a $9000 grant from Bellevue Public Schools Foundation for new storage and supplies, with the help of junior AP English students Karlee Reyome, Christian Wohlford, Julia White, and Michael Garza’s Challenge Based Learning (CBL) project. 

The CBL group has been working with social studies teacher and T-Bird Nest sponsor Brenna Dacey since the beginning of first semester.

“We’re trying to turn it into an all-purpose room, so people can go in there and get breakfast food, clothing that will still be provided, or essential hygiene products like toothpaste and deodorant,” Reyome said.

The group raised awareness for their project across social media and through school newsletters, encouraging students and parents to bring donations of school supplies, hygiene products, and non-perishable food items to parent-teacher conferences held on Oct. 15 and 16. 

“The goal is to get as much storage as possible so that we can have room for clothing, toiletry items, and pantry items for students,” Dacey said.

West social worker Emily Arkfeld applied for the grant.

“Ms. Flynn actually told us to reach out to her because she’s the school social worker, so she thought [Arkfeld] would be able to find some way to get donations and that type of thing,” Reyome said.

With the grant approved, the group is now waiting on a date for an acceptance ceremony. The money will assist in continuing the mission and services of T-Bird Nest for future students in need, Reyome said.

“Hopefully the $9000, after the shelving and storage, will be used to keep [T-Bird Nest] going, so if we run out of clothes or run out of food we’ll have that backup money to get stuff,” Reyome said.