NILES CHARTER TOWNSHIP — The Rebecca Dewey Chapter of National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, or DAR, put a new service committee into action Wednesday by donating a chest for recess supplies to Merritt Elementary, 1620 Lasalle Ave. in Niles Charter Township.

The Three Oaks-based DAR chapter formed the Community Classroom Committee this spring. Tifanni Dash, a member, said the committee was formed to provide a link between volunteering and local classrooms.

She and others reached out to schools to see what types of volunteers or donations were needed. After speaking to fellow Brandywine classmate and alumna Caley Coleman, Dash found that a storage space for outdoor play equipment was needed. It was an object a bit too pricey and a bit too niche for a typical school supply donation, she said.

“As a previous classroom teacher myself, when you write grants for things, usually, grants don’t cover storage supply aspects,” Dash said. “They’ll cover the outdoors supplies. They’ll cover a lot of things, but the storage supplies are never covered.”

Merritt’s 300 students could use the donated storage bin daily.

“As kids are going in and out, they’ll be able to grab recess toys… like balls and hula hoops and jumps ropes and things,” said principal Matthew Severin. “That way, they can pick them up on the way out and drop them off on the way back in.”

Regent of the local DAR chapter, Kathy Alton, said the donation merges the values of the education-based Community Classroom Committee with other committees focused on women’s health.

The donation was the first action taken by the committee, but another project is underway. It is collecting school supplies for Brandywine Junior High School students, to be delivered in January.

That, Alton and Dash said, is often when school supplies from late summer supply drives run low.

“When the donations dry up, the volunteers dry up, that’s when we can sort of step in,” Dash said.

People outside the women’s service organization can donate by emailing Dash at tifanni05@yahoo.com. She offered to pick up the items, but she said items such as pencils, pens, notepads, folders, journals, loose-leaf paper and sticky notes are preferred. She also plans to collect gift cards and treats for teachers.

Dash and the committee are working to find volunteer opportunities at schools. Severin noted that people were needed for Christmas events, book fairs, reading opportunities and, Dash’s favorite, field day.

As donations are collected and volunteer hours are logged, the local DAR chapter is preparing to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at Shedd Cemetery on Spring Creek Road in Three Oaks Township. It will unveil a new cemetery sign, a pollinator garden and a lighted flag pole.