Nashville HUD and Social Security's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review Supports PENCIL Foundation Schools and Students

Volunteers from HUD-Nashville and Social Security's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review present new backpacks to the schools' administration at Jones Paideia School in Nashville, a PENCIL partner.

On Friday, August 26, 2011 in North Nashville at the Jones Paideia Magnet School, the HUD-Nashville Office and its office neighbor, Social Security's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) donated backpacks and school supplies from employee contributions. Beverly Bell, Nashville Multi-Family Project Manager, annually supports this PENCIL school by providing school supplies and enlisting her coworkers to join her. It is expected that the Nashville Office will again provide needed supplies to the school from HUD Office employee contributions, and possibly for other needs in the near future. The local Office of Administration's Elliot Dassow, Field Policy and Management Director, Keith Richardson, and PENCIL Coordinator, Beverly Bell, along with ODAR employees, presented the backpacks and school supplies to Principal, Dr. Debra Smith, who praised the effort.

The Nashville PENCIL Foundation's (http://www.pencilfd.org/home) programs are many, but one such program is for giving needed supplies to schools in need. There are numerous partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors that donate. It's vital that local businesses and the public sector help the PENCIL schools.

Beverly worked with HUD Officials to clear the way for Jones Paideia to receive the school supplies. "We are very pleased to be able to assist Jones Paideia Magnet School and students," said Ms. Bell. "This school has been our partner for many years, and has entertained our employees over the years. They've attended various events throughout the years with us, and the Office loves to hear their choir sing."

"The giving spirit of federal personnel at HUD and ODAR for Jones Paideia students demonstrates that volunteerism is considered a call to action," said HUD-Nashville Director, Keith Richardson. ODAR Director, Shirley Hawkins, fully supported the joint effort, as well.

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