Shopping for a special delivery: Here’s how these Staten Island third-graders are helping the homeless
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Four classes of 3rd-graders from PS 60 took their social justice classes on the highway not too long ago, purchasing for the homeless and making ready “blessing bags’’ for shipping and delivery to Task Hospitality.
The team of buyers, which was comprised of normal education and learning and special schooling students, was led by academics Jeannine DiGiacomo, Alyssa Longo, Nicole Noonan, Laurie Primiano, Alicia Handley and Gianna Principe.
The job was the excellent culmination to the last device of the year — which targeted on social justice, the instructors said.
Homelessness and poverty had been reviewed in the classroom, DiGiacomo described, and the exercise aided the learners completely fully grasp the concern. “It was not just coming from a studying,’’ she additional.
The third-graders from the Graniteville school produced about 75 two-gallon “blessing bags’’ stuffed with socks, toiletries, combs, toothbrushes and modest food items goods. The baggage will be sent to Job Hospitality, which serves more than 5,000 hungry, homeless or inadequately housed Staten Islanders every single year.
“It actually was these kinds of a optimistic expertise for them,’’ stated teacher Alyssa Longo. “They received to have an understanding of how good it feels to give. I hope this will be anything they try to remember, and they carry on to do it all over their lives.’’(Courtesy of Jeannine DiGiacomo)
The baggage will be delivered by neighborhood affairs officers from the 120th Police Precinct.
“The significant aim this 12 months was exposing children to social issues,’’ DiGiacomo mentioned. “We made the decision it would be a wonderful factor if we could do some thing to teach them extra about it.”
The procuring excursion took spot earlier this month, with little ones paired off into groups, and funding delivered by $5 relatives donations. The college students then made the baggage — each individual such as a “letter of hope’’ to a homeless recipient.
Before the four courses divided for their buying outings at Greenback Tree outlets in Greenridge and Nice Plains, they investigated the very best products to place into their present baggage.
They also comparison shopped, seeking for the greatest charges for the objects they necessary, the academics stated, bringing into participate in their classes on financial literacy.
Guardian chaperones took section in the searching tour, which the kids really loved, DiGiacomo stated. “It was so lovable,’’ she recalled. “They were being so sympathetic, relating almost everything we examine about in our device.’’
The action prompted the pupils to identify how privileged they are, the instructors reported. And it opened their eyes to the requires all around them.
“It genuinely was this kind of a good working experience for them,’’ stated Longo. “They received to realize how excellent it feels to give. I hope this will be anything they bear in mind, and they carry on to do it throughout their life.’’
Zuhair Sheikh displays off the “blessing bag” he designed for Challenge Hospitality. (Courtesy of Jeannine DiGiacomo)
The teachers had been all brief to praise the school’s principal, Donna Bonanno, for supporting the venture.
“She wants the young ones to get out in the group and understand from the community and just take an active part in it,’’ DiGiacomo reported.
The lecturers reported that the students comparison shopped, on the lookout for the greatest costs for the objects they necessary. (Courtesy of Jeannine DiGiacomo)
The exercise prompted the students to recognize how privileged they are, the instructors claimed. And it opened their eyes to the wants all over them. (Courtesy of Jeannine DiGiacomo)
