GOAL Gives Back This Holiday Season Through Community-Centered Initiatives

This holiday season, GOAL Digital Academy is proud to share the collective impact of its “GOAL Gives Back” initiatives, a series of community-focused efforts taking place at all seven GOAL Learning Lab locations. From fresh holiday meals and food pantries to clothing support and family adoption programs, GOAL staff, students, and community partners are coming together to ensure families feel supported, valued, and cared for during the holiday season.

Across all GOAL Learning Labs, staff and students are participating in Adopt-a-Family and Adopt-a-Foster initiatives, providing food, clothing, toys, and essential items to families and youth in need. These service efforts are made possible through the combined efforts of GOAL teams and community partners, including neighbors, friends, and local businesses, who have donated time, resources, and essential items.

“GOAL Gives Back reflects who we are as a school community,” said Tish Jenkins, Superintendent of GOAL Digital Academy. “Our Learning Labs are more than academic spaces; they are places where students and families feel known, valued, and supported. During the holiday season and throughout the year, we are committed to meeting families where they are and ensuring they have the resources and connections they need to thrive.”

In addition to direct support, GOAL Learning Labs are hosting hot community meals and holiday gatherings, creating welcoming spaces where students and families can come together to connect, celebrate, and build meaningful relationships that reduce barriers to education.

Across GOAL Digital Academy’s seven Learning Labs, holiday efforts included:

• Food security initiatives, such as providing fresh holiday meals, operating on-site food pantries, and assembling family food bags to support students and families experiencing food insecurity.

• Clothing support, including accessible clothing closets within Learning Labs and the distribution of winter apparel to ensure students have warm, essential items during the colder months.

• Student-led service projects, where students and staff members give back to their communities by creating holiday cards and outreach items for local nursing homes and community partners.

• Community engagement events, featuring shared meals, bowling outings, and holiday celebrations, are designed to strengthen connections and foster a sense of belonging.

“These initiatives are rooted in relationships,” said Jessica Caughlan, Director of Partnerships and Family Engagement at GOAL Digital Academy. “When schools, families, and community partners come together, we can remove barriers and create meaningful support systems for students. GOAL Gives Back is a powerful example of how partnership and compassion can make a real difference in the lives of our families.”

As GOAL Digital Academy looks ahead to the new year, the spirit of GOAL Gives Back will continue to guide its work, strengthening relationships, supporting student well-being, and building communities where every leader has the opportunity to thrive.