Monica McCain Spreads Joy with Accessible Toledo Zoo Lights Experience

Monica McCain Spreads Joy with Accessible Toledo Zoo Lights Experience

Parent Mentor Monica McCain helped bring extra cheer to students and families across Toledo Public Schools (TPS) by coordinating a special experience tied to one of Northwest Ohio’s special traditions, the Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo.

The annual event is one of the region’s largest holiday lights shows, with over a million lights and hundreds of illuminated displays.

The Toledo Zoo’s Zoo for All Program offers sensory-friendly nights, offering memorable experiences for students who might not otherwise be able to attend.

Working with Tracie Lee, Executive Director of Student Services, Monica was able to secure a limited number of free tickets from the Toledo Zoo’s Companies for Kids sponsors. She and district staff organized a lottery for intervention specialists to nominate students based on effort and academic progress. Monica also made sure that winning students received tickets for their entire household. Teachers shared family sizes during nominations so that every sibling and caregiver could join.

Students from five different schools received surprise deliveries that included:

• Family tickets to Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo, donated by Mercy Health.
• Winter gift bags with hats, gloves, treats, and sensory toys to enhance their visit.
    

Watch the video taken by WGTV’s Action News that captured one of the surprise deliveries, showing the excitement as gifts were given to the students. The efforts and partnerships led by Monica showed how commitment to family engagement and community support can come together bring joy and a sense of belonging to students and their families.