Ford Middle School Student Appointed as Project 351 Ambassador, Hosts Cradles to Crayons Clothing Drive

ACUSHNET — Superintendent Dr. Paula Bailey is pleased to announce that Ford Middle School eighth-grade student Gianna Almeida has been appointed as the school’s Project 351 Ambassador. 

For Almeida’s Spring Service project, she chose to host a Cradles to Crayons Clothing Drive from March 25 through April 3. Almeida collected gently used children’s clothes from her peers and their families. Students and families donated a total of 19 bags of clothing to the donation bins Almeida organized at Acushnet Elementary and Ford Middle School.

Almeida then sorted through the collected clothes with her leadership team and transported them to Cradles to Crayons and Gifts to Give, where the items were donated to children experiencing clothing insecurity in Massachusetts.

“I am powered by change, I do these projects with a purpose, not just to get them done,” said Almeida. “Both bins were filled to the top twice! I am very grateful for all the support and help I have gotten.”

Project 351 is an independent nonprofit organization that aims to raise a generation of community-focused service leaders through their ambassador program. After being selected by their teachers, students enter the Ambassador Journey, a year-long service and leadership development program where they create projects to serve their community through hands-on learning experiences and trainings. 

“We are so proud of Gianna and everything she has accomplished so far,” Superintendent Bailey said. “The leadership she has shown through her appointment to Project 351 and the organization of the clothing drive is impressive, and she is an incredible representative of Ford Middle School.”

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