Wind project companies make big donation to school

It felt like Christmas came early at North Iowa Community School last Friday morning, as several companies involved in the construction of the Golden Plains Wind Farm donated thousands of dollars’ worth of supplies to the school.

Alliant Energy, EDF Renewables, White Construction, GE, JCG Land Services, William Charles, JFE and Sargent Electric came together to provide $6,204 worth of school supplies, gift cards, and monetary donations, after asking teachers what items they could use for their classrooms.

Cheri Kester, who works in the middle school media center and the Wellness Center, says she got to know some of the workers from the wind farm companies when they signed up as members at the Wellness Center. “They wanted to know what they could do to assist our school in some way. We started visiting about it, and one thing led to another, and here we are,” said Kester.

Kester reached out to all the teachers at the school to find out what sorts of supplies they would like, and she compiled a list that she sent to Hannah Floyd from EDF Renewables.

Kester was blown away when the wind farm workers showed up Friday morning carrying box after box, filled with every single item the teachers requested. “The teachers couldn’t believe it,” said Kester. “We were not expecting to get everything on the list.”

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