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SCHOOL'S COOL

School’s Cool

Celebrating 25 Years of Generosity

For 25 years School’s Cool, the partnership program between St. Bart’s and Banyan Community, has filled thousands of backpacks with school supplies and provided uniforms to youth in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis. Thank you for your generous past support. One of the many results of your support is a 100% graduation rate from DeLaSalle High School!

It all starts with a backpack, uniform, and school supplies to ensure our K-12 youth are prepared to succeed in school. Banyan kids work hard. They are supported by their parents, the Banyan program and by partners like YOU!

Banyan families and staff are looking forward to the 2024-25 school year. We are asking for your financial and volunteer support to ensure Banyan youth are set up for success. The School’s Cool team is hoping to support all 160 Banyan K-12 youth this year with your help.

How Can I Help?

Order Supplies from Special Amazon Registry

New this year for St. Bart’s parishioners only! Order supplies from a special Amazon registry by July 15. Designate St. Bart’s as the delivery address, Attn:  Sue Scott



Donate

Donate by August 2 to help us reach our goal of supporting all 160 Banyan youth this year. To donate, click the button below or send a check payable to The Banyan Community directly to them at 2529 13th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55404


Volunteer

Families are encouraged to serve together as well as everyone else who would like to help!

  • Tues., July 23: Unpack, inventory and organize supplies at St. Bart’s

  • Mon., July 29: Deliver supplies to Banyan

  • Tues., July 30: Pack backpacks at Banyan

Serving the Community

School’s Cool provides backpacks, school supplies and uniforms to children participating in the education programs at the Banyan Community in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis. In 1999, Alison Johnson, a St. Bart’s parishioner, recognized that these basic needs had to be met for the Banyan’s children to succeed. Over the years, St. Bart’s parishioners have continued to organize and support the School’s Cool effort. St. Bart’s provides the tools, and Banyan provides the educational and community support. The success rate of the children participating in the Banyan programs is 98 percent! Be a part of it!

School's Cool Stories

Elementary

Jenny, a Banyan elementary educator, attends the kindergarten graduation at St. Helena Catholic School to celebrate with our youth. Banyan is like family, and celebrates a variety of milestones with youth and families. Starting the educational journey prepared (with a fully stocked backpack and uniform) is what later brings success. With the help of St. Bart's, Banyan brings the after school support, the supplies, and the partnership with St. Helena that ensures a healthy start to education.

Middle School

Banyan youth start planning for their future in middle school! In order for this Risen Christ student to achieve her goal of becoming a veterinarian, she and her family will need the support of Banyan. That includes after school homework help, field trips to learn from veterinarians, and a pathway to a college prep high school. Starting the school year with a backpack and uniform puts her one step ahead and ready to hit the ground running.

High School

These high school youth graduated from DeLaSalle High School and are off to college! In part because they were prepared for school every year with a new backpack, school supplies, and uniform. That means years of notebooks, pencils, art supplies, and uniforms - 13 years for many of them! To get this cohort to graduation was roughly 70 fully loaded backpacks, an accomplishment worth celebrating!

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