A little bit of support can do a lot for children, regardless of where they live in the St. Louis region.
The Little Bit Foundation and East St. Louis School District 189 celebrated a new partnership on Friday Feb. 9, 2024, at Annette Officer Elementary School, the foundation’s first in Illinois.
Miranda Walker Jones, Little Bit Foundation CEO, calls the partnership “intensely personal for me.”
“I am a product of East St. Louis, and I now can share my story with students and give back to the community that helped make me who I am,” she said.
“This is the beginning of something great for this challenged, yet resilient and strong, community.”
Little Bit programs and services, which include literacy programming, and health and nutrition, are available at Officer, with plans to expand within the district.
East St. Louis High now has access to STEM curriculum and Little Bit’s college and career readiness programming. Many of its students have participated in Little Bit’s “What’s Next? College and Career Fair.”
At Friday’s ceremony, Officer students received a new coat, books, backpacks and other supplies. Little Bit also opened a boutique on the school’s second floor which has coats, hygiene products, clothes, and a quiet corner.
“A lot of people have become successful that are from East St. Louis – but they never come back,” said Superintendent Arthur Culver.
“We must acknowledge Miranda for returning and giving back to the community from which she comes.”
