By Kristen Giglio, teacher at Holy Family School, Norwich
When the recent floods occurred in the southern United States, Mrs. Kristen Giglio’s third-grade class at Holy Family School in Norwich saw it as an opportunity to help others. Kids helping kids is a powerful experience and helps students learn that they can always make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Students began raising funds to make Build-A-Bears to be given to young people in Asheville, North Carolina, who were impacted by the flooding. They set a goal of raising enough money to purchase 50 bears. Through the generosity of their classroom families, school, church and the local community, they far exceeded their goal. In total, $1,800 was raised and, thanks to a holiday special at Build-A-Bear, the class made 82 bears.
Three families traveled to Syracuse where students made all the bears, complete with hearts filled with well wishes for the children who would receive them.
Next, the bears returned to Norwich where the third graders dressed them in a shirt, hat or shorts and added a special tag to each one. The bears were then packaged and began their journey to the Asheville Catholic Schools where they were distributed to those in need during the holiday season.
Throughout the project, students practiced their math skills, learned about the proper way to write an address and hopefully walked away with a lesson in compassion that will remain in their young servant’s hearts for many years.
