Wilton-Lyndeborough Co-operative Middle High School has gathered and donated 168 new pillows to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that provides beds and bedding to children in need of them.

Principal Tom Ronning shared news of the donation at theWLC Schoolboard meeting Tuesday.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a nonprofit group that established a Hillsborough County chapter in 2019. It has since then delivered over 646 beds to children across the region, according to a statement from David Sodders, president of the Hillsborough County Chapter. 

Paul Levesque, who coaches baseball at WLC, was also SHP’s ambassador for the effort. 

“Our goal was 100 pillows, but we got 168,” said Ronning. “The community has supported us, so we wanted to do what we could to support the community.”

Ronning also requested and was granted permission to use additional funds to help families send students on a trip to Washington, D.C. in May. 

Ronning requested using $2,600 to cover increased per-student costs in the wake of several students dropping out of the trip. 

“We’re still on the hook for the overall cost, but with fewer students going, this raises the cost to those who are going,” said Ronning. 

“The date has passed by which students could drop out of the trip,” said SAU Business Administrator Kristie LaPlante Wednesday. “If we don’t pitch in to help these families with the additional cost, they could lose what they’d already paid.”

The board voted unanimously to authorize the funds to offset increases for those going to Washington. The week-long trip will involve students grades nine through 12.

Ronning also reported that the WLC gym was dedicated to David Finch last week between basketball games. Finch was a physical education teacher, coach and athletic director at WLC whose worked in the district for 38 years. 

School Board Chair Dennis Golding announced that beginning on Jan.23, individuals wishing to become candidates for board seats may begin that process at the SAU office.