Many hands help the homeless

Filling 750 backpacks with everything from tissues and snacks to socks and hats for homeless people is a tall order, but not too tall for a group of students from Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Port Washington, a company and the Feith Family Ozaukee YMCA, where volunteers gathered Tuesday to complete the project in just hours. Most of the items for the homeless were provided by Rebel Converting and the project was organized by the company’s owner Mike Kryshak and his wife Loretta. Dividing up thousands of packs of tissues were (from left in top photo) Annabelle Hatfield, Sophia Goetz, Victoria Del Angel Cano, Kylie Krajenka, Garett Kawczynski, Nathanial Edwards and Laurie Miske from the Saukville Police Department. Kira Sova (top rightt photo) had her hands full of peanut butter snacks, while (from left in middle photo) Carlie Snodgrass, Jenna Korten and Madison Wichman divvied up hats, gloves and socks. The socks were collected and donated by the Ozaukee YMCA in memory of Nicky Schrott, a Y employee known for his welcoming personality and eclectic collection of colorful knee socks. Schrott died on his way to work in a Nov. 6 crash on I-43 in Saukville. Handling the candy-package duties were (from right in bottom photo) Isabella Schmitz, Annastasia Wischki and Haily Bergin. The students, who participate in the middle school’s Student Ambassador Program, also made Christmas cards that were included in the backpacks.                                      Photos by Bill Schanen IV