Last year, my class was involved in raising money for a handful of charities while also helping Ed Jarrett break the Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest sandcastle. Click here to see a six-minute promotional video about the record breaking effort that includes interviews from some of my past students and myself.
Today, with the help of a class parent, students helped decorate a gingerbread house which will be donated to a local establishment. Here are the pictures:
Our class participated in the Holiday Bear Project, which is a charity that sponsors children who need a little holiday boost. We sponsored a brother and sister from Danbury whose family was having a difficult time and needed some help to provide gifts for their kids for the upcoming holidays.
To earn money for our shopping trip to Walmart, students did jobs around the house. Another thing we did was to use the iPad, laptops, and other computer devices to look up the names and phone numbers of local businesses. Students worked on scripts that we used to call businesses asking for their support for this charitable cause. We raised $530 and on November 30 we took a trip to Walmart in Avon (after school) and 20 students came along. We were able to purchase clothes, shoes, electronics, books, and other gifts for the two kids.
Our class will be participating in the Holiday Bear Project, which is a charity that sponsors children who need a little holiday boost. We will be sponsoring a brother and sister from Danbury whose family is having a difficult time and would be hard pressed to provide gifts for their kids during the holidays. What most classes do who are involved in projects like this is to have students bring in wrapped gifts. While this is very effective, I do this a little differently. Along with altruism and empathy, I want students to utilize this opportunity to learn some other lessons, too.
At 3:30 PM on Wednesday, November 30, whoever is interested/available will be meeting me at Walmart in Avon. Using the money we collect we will purchase gifts (also wrapping paper and tape) for these two kids and then the entire class will wrap them up the next morning. I discussed with students about asking family (either you or maybe family that lives nearby) if they can do some jobs around the house to earn money. Students had many great ideas and many have already started earning money. Anything is helpful. Another thing we have been doing is using the iPad, laptops, and other computer devices to look up the names and phone numbers of local businesses. We have worked on scripts that students will be using to call businesses to ask for their support in this charitable cause. (I will not have any student make a phone call if he/she is uncomfortable.) We made phone calls last year as well and this really helps students work on their speaking skills and confidence. I monitor each phone call and we do it right from the classroom. Most businesses will say no thank you (or use some very clever evasive tactics!), but a few will say yes and that is just another reality that students will experience. For the businesses that do say yes, I will ask students if any of them, driven by you, can swing by and pick up the cash, check, or gift card. If you’d be willing to do this just let your child know so if they volunteer they already have an ok from you.
I understand that not every student will be able to make it to Walmart on November 30 and that is absolutely fine. All students will be involved in the process both before and after. Let me know if you have any questions about this worthy cause.
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