LIBERTY, NY — Liberty Central School District middle school students will be able to use new indoor and outdoor equipment at recess, thanks to $500 from a grant awarded to the district in the Stewart’s Holiday Match program.

The grant funding will allow the district to revitalize and enrich the recess program by purchasing various sports balls, such as soccer balls, volleyballs, basketballs, footballs, kickballs, jump ropes, an outdoor portable speaker and a recess cart for all the supplies. These age-appropriate items will contribute to increased physical activity and engagement during recess, not only promoting a healthier lifestyle, but also enhancing social interactions among students. 

In addition, the grant will be used to acquire indoor recess materials such as mindfulness coloring books, giant inspirational coloring posters and colored pencils, which will be added to our current collection of games. These items will ensure that recess remains a valuable and enriching experience regardless of environmental conditions. 

"Having this grant has been helpful in building up our inventory of recess materials, giving more students the opportunity to engage in physical activity and social interaction,” safety duty aide Cindy Mercado said. “On behalf of all Liberty Middle School students and lunch/recess staff, we send a huge thank you to Stewart's for this Holiday Match Grant."

The grant application for Liberty Central School District was written by members of the Capital Region BOCES Grants & Development Service.

Stewart’s Holiday Match is a program to aid school-age children all year long in the areas of social services, health, education, recreation, and the arts. More than $2 million was raised between customer and corporate donations for the 2023-2024 program and more than $38 million has been awarded since the program started in 1986.