By Eman Jassem
The Arab American News intern

DEARBORN — On June 5, Lowrey School and Oakman Elementary School were each awarded the grand prize of $1,250 for being the winners of the Blue Hands United Clothing Collection Challenge sponsored by Midwest Recycling.

Those attending people the Oakman Elementary School award event included English Language Development (ELD) specialists Arwa Ali and Amal Chehab, Michelle Rawson’s kindergarten class, parents and Midwest Recycling associates. Attendees at the Lowrey School award event included Principal Rima Younes, resource teacher Fudwa Fawaz, students and Midwest Recycling associates, including founder Abe Hachem.

Midwest Recycling is a for-profit organization founded in 2007. This worldwide distributor of clothing and shoes for people in need also specializes in the placement and maintenance of more than 600 collection bins benefiting local neighborhoods and communities.

Oakman students display a check from Midwest Recycling

The Blue Hands United Clothing Collection Challenge hosted by Midwest Recycling aimed to raise autism awareness and to help out families with autistic children. The clothing drive ended on June 1 and winners were announced on June 5.

“Our kids are very empathetic and work with so many groups,” Younes said. “They help the less fortunate, so they really do a lot of community work. This is what we are all about and we are fortunate that we have kids that are passionate and care so much.”

She also said Dearborn Schools officials not only train their students to become academically successful, they shape their students to become generous human beings by being grateful and giving back.

“It is giving back,” said Ali, one of Oakman’s ELD specialsts. “It is especially good (to give back) in a school setting, teaching young kids to be grateful for what they have. It is setting them up to become good citizens.”

(L-R) Zahra Aljibori, Joe Hazimi and Abe Hachem of Midwest Recycling