Community Action Partnership

The thrill of arriving on the first day of school prepared and ready to learn can be a struggle for some students.  Information from the ’23-’24 student data, of the 3,221 students who attend LPS, 21.9% fall below the Federal Poverty line. (705 students) (stats IES/NCES website) There is a continued need for the kids who represent this statistic.  Studies have shown that learning outcomes are greater in kids who are engaged and positive about the learning experience.  

“For students whose families cannot afford supplies, coming to school unprepared can create social and emotional challenges in addition to putting kids at a disadvantage of learning.” (School Supply Gap, Teach for America. Org, 9-8-19)    

Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska has been addressing a portion of this gap for years.  We attempt to assist low-income families with supplementing their back-to-school expenses through backpacks and supplies.  Martha Draskovic in the Lexington office has coordinated fundraisers and supply drives to attempt to curb the cost of providing these supplies.

2017: 302 distributed

2018: 315 distributed

2019: 255 distributed

2020: 300 distributed

2021: 300 distributed

2022: 300 distributed

2023: 318 distributed

2024: 300 distributed

In addition to this project, Martha coordinates the Salvation Army annual fund drive and distributes a portion of those funds.   She is the central navigator of Lexington Ministerial funds and oversees the Lexington Food Pantry.  In the past year, she has distributed over 36,000 pounds of Farmers to Families Produce 65 rent and utility assists, in addition to 1,238 food pantries to 691 unduplicated clients.  

For more information, please visit:

www.communityactionmidne.com