Businesses show teachers appreciation

MT. PLEASANT — Kicking off at 4 p.m. at the Airport Road Vineyard, Henry County Teachers enjoyed two hours of local businesses showing teachers their appreciation at Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce’s annual Teacher Appreciation Night.

Teachers enjoyed appetizers and drinks as they made their way around to 12 tables hosted by local businesses.

“Local businesses just came out and gave teachers goodies,” Chamber of Commerce Director of Membership Delaney Van Ness said. “There were tissues, crayons, markers, hand sanitizer …”

According to Van Ness, approximately 120 Henry County teachers attended the event. Most of those teachers came from Mt. Pleasant schools, but a few from Salem and New London also attended.

The Chamber puts this event together for all Henry County teachers.

“We had some awesome prizes,” Van Ness said.

Some of these bigger prizes included beanbag chairs, laminator, gifts from The Shop Dewitt Built, a car wash, and baskets from Iowa Wesleyan and Community First Credit Union.

In addition to the dozen tables with goodies, event sponsors Walmart, Iowa Wesleyan, Area Recyclers, and Beck’s Superior Hybrids made donations to make the event possible.

“We feel it is so important to support our teachers,” Van Ness said. “We want them to continue being wonderful and so we support them.”

According to Van Ness, the Chamber hosts multiple events to support area education.

In addition to the Teacher Appreciation Night, they host a Welcome Back Breakfast at the beginning of the school year, job fairs, small business week, and manufacturing week.

“It is important to get into the schools and help the kids understand why they should want to stay in Henry County and live and work here,” Van Ness said.

“We support education and workforce,” she said. “By supporting our teachers, we are supporting our future workforce.”

The next big event on the Chamber’s calendar is the Annual Banquet March 30 at Airport Road Vineyard.

For tickets to the banquet, call the Chamber at (319) 385-3101 by March 15.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com