Sometimes pots and pans can do a lot more than cook a meal. They can unite a community.

Proving that the whole is stronger than the individual parts, George White Elementary School’s Kids in Community Service program just donated almost 150 brand-new pots and pans to local charitable organizations, primarily Irvine-based Human Options. 

With a campaign spearheaded by PTA mom Melissa Pearl, George White families embraced Albertsons supermarket’s offer in which shoppers received one little blue reward sticker for every $10 spent. 

Stickers could then be redeemed, allowing customers to pay only a penny for Thomas anodised cookware that retails for $30 to $90.

Getting People Together

When Pearl first noticed the Albertsons promotion in September, she figured that if she could get a few friends to collect stickers, they could donate the cookware to people who need it.  One mass e-mail led to a Facebook post and then to the realization that should the project spread schoolwide, the results would be phenomenal. 

If each family donated only 10 stickers, that would be at least 4,000 stickers and enough for 50 skillets to help out the chosen beneficiary, Human Options. The Orange County organization uses a therapeutic approach to assist women and their families affected by domestic violence via counseling and empowerment programs for the women, as well as a therapeutic children's counseling and education program.  It also provides a safe living situation. 

Educators See a Worthy Effort

PTA President Heather Daly and Principal Mike Spelber agreed that this was a worthy effort and incorporated it into the KICS program, chaired by Stephanie Chappel, Robin Rice and Debbie Richey.

As the goal began to near reality, Pearl contacted the Marina Hills Albertsons, as the collective was spending a lot of money at the location and perhaps Albertsons could add to the effort.  

"Amazingly, all of the store managers and checkers were wonderfully kind and patient every single time the stickers were redeemed in bulk," said Pearl.

Much Good has Been Done

“From the start, I thought his was a great idea, but I never dreamed we'd be so effective!  Now our children have seen how doing something small to help others can grow into something big,” said Chappel. 

Having sorted through more than 12,000 stickers, they were able to donate cookware to Toby’s House,  the National Council for Jewish Women,  Operation Homefront,  Military Outreach Ministry and Human Options, a group that will be able to give to the next 50 women who complete its program a bundle that includes a covered sauté pan, a Dutch oven and a $20 Albertsons gift card. 

Money Raised

The total retail cost of goods and donations comes to more than $8,000.  The MOMS Club of Laguna Niguel South Philanthropy Team, helmed by Meredith Miller and Rachael Nagel, also followed this model and was able to donate 23 pieces of cookware to Giving Children Hope.

Many kids got quite the sense of joy when placing their bunches of stickers or filling out saver cards into the administrative office-based turquoise collection box and seeing everyone work together.

Pearl was touched by the sheer number of people who contributed, via school and from her own personal contacts, and said she even received a number of holiday cards loaded with stickers. 

“We are very proud of this little project and hope it inspires others to find creative ways to make a difference in their community,” said Daly.

Even the kids, such as Grant Richey, 9, had a glorious time.

"It was cool to see how many pots and pans there were in the back of the trucks."

Ashley Richey, 15, said, "It was really neat to experience how one little thing was able to make a huge difference."

"Pretty awesome that people can boil water now. I never knew how many foods you could make with hot water," said Hayden Edmunds, 9.

"It feels good to give all those gifts cards and pots and pans to people who need them. That way they can buy food and cook family dinners,” said Caroline Daly, 9.