Sandusky grad gives back to Hancock teachers

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky High School alumna gave back in the spirit of the holiday season.Mary Giles, a 2005 graduate, donated bags of supplies to 17 classrooms at Hancock Elementary Monday. Stuffed into each bag were tissues, construction paper, crayons, snacks and more. Through her employer, Akro-Mils, in Akron, she also donated storage containers for classrooms.Giles, who now lives in Akron, understands how hard it can be for teachers to supply their classrooms.Preschool teacher Erin Terry smiles after receiving school supplies from Mary Giles at Hancock Elementary in Sandusky on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018."My younger sister is a teacher in Houston, Texas, and she often shares with me the struggle buying extra items she needs for her classroom, like writing utensils, any snacks and sanitary items for her students," Giles said. "So Kathy (Pace) and I came up with donating to the teachers for the second half of the school year. By this time, the teachers have already spent their budget given for their classroom. I believe in helping our teachers help the next generation in any way we can."Hancock Elementary principal Kathy Pace expressed how grateful she is for Giles' idea."Through Mary's blessings, we can bless the kids and teachers," she said.Mary Giles gets ready to distribute bags of supplies to teachers at Hancock Elementary in Sandusky on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018.As they dropped off the bags, Giles and Pace were met with smiles and even hugs from teachers and students, who thanked Giles for her generosity."These are so needed," one teacher said when handed a bag of supplies.Fourth-grade teacher Debbie Parker, right, shakes hands with Mary Giles, who donated school supplies to teachers at Hancock Elementary in Sandusky on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018.Some teachers noted how quickly they go through supplies, especially tissues."We can sure use these," second-grade teacher Rose Ott said.Giles said she wants to annually give back to Sandusky Schools in some way. Hancock Elementary principal Kathy Pace stands with Mary Giles for a photo on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Sandusky.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodSixth-grade teacher Marseille Stevenson hugs Mary Giles after being given school supplies at Hancock Elementary in Sandusky on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018.