Early morning Walmart shoppers may have noted a crowd of community leaders, Rome City Schools staff and supporters, citizens, and Walmart associates gathered outside store #658 in West Rome on Sept. 16, 2022. They may have also heard the music, snapped a photo with Coca-Cola’s polar bear and smelled the good eats of Taqueria De Leon’s food truck just west of the front doors. It would have been hard not to notice a celebration was underway.
During the grand re-opening and ribbon cutting of Walmart’s #658 store, and in front of an audience including Mayor Sundai Stevenson, two groups from RCS were awarded grants by the Walmart Foundation to support students and schools.
Principal Dr. Dennis Drummond, PTO president Melanie Matteo and PTO treasurer Aerial Holbert graciously accepted a $1,500 check from Walmart store manager Brandy Thomas on behalf of West End Elementary.
Drummond credited the school’s vibrant and active PTO members for helping to progress ideas and plans that continue to make West End’s environment an excellent place to learn and grow. Matteo said the grant from the Walmart Foundation will go toward the school’s goal of building a pavilion on the lower playground to provide a covered space for outdoor recreation and learning.
Rome Band Boosters president Eric Vaughn and Meredith Thomas were clearly overjoyed to accept a $1,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation. The band boosters support all RCS bands for grades six through 12. Vaughn and Thomas said funds would be used to cover expenses such as instrument and uniform repair, vehicle maintenance and paying for things such as rights to the music that the RCS bands learn and perform for the public.
Both groups expressed excitement and gratitude for the support of the Walmart Foundation and their local store. When community partners and schools come together, the kids always win.
