Out of more than 1,000 grant applications to receive a $10,000 grant from Goody’s  clothing stores, Lee Street Alternative School has been chosen as a finalist in the chain’s inaugural Good Deeds for Schools Grant Program.

The newly created program is designed to help local schools pay for things they need, but cannot afford through regular education funding.

The school’s proposal is now in the final round of judging at the Goody’s corporate headquarters, vying for one of 50 $10,000 grants the company will award in April.

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Even if the school does not receive the grant, employees from Goody’s in New Iberia will volunteer hours at Lee Street Alter-native School.

Leesa Falterman, special education coordinator at Lee Street Alternative School, said she submitted a grant proposal requesting money for an on-site retail store at the school and was selected by a panel of judges who work at the local Goody’s store.

“If we receive the grant, we will have a little store on our campus,” Falterman said. “The store will have arts and crafts gifts that students will make. Also the store will have seasonal items that students can buy for their family members when Christmas or Mother’s Day is upon us. With this program we are trying to teach our students job skills and how to market their product.”   

Falterman is excited about the finalist announcement.

“More than a thousand grant applications were received from schools in 20 states requesting assistance for projects integral to enhancing students educational experience,” Falter-man said.  

Last school year Lee Street received a $20,000 grant from the Office of Youth Development for students to attend summer camp in June.

“Every need in our schools is so worthwhile, and Goody’s is so thrilled to have the opportunity to lend a hand through the advent of this new school grant program,” Mary Beth Fox, Goody’s vice president of marketing, strategy and planning, said in a press release.

“The store associates in particular were so eager to reach out to schools. Goody’s associates are truly dedicated to giving back to the communities we serve, and children are the primary focus of that mission.