Students Learn a Lesson in Giving
November 1st, 2009 | Children, Giving
By Jennifer L. Hipple
Imagine how the simplest of gestures can make a big impact. That’s what the students at a Brooklyn Park work training program are experiencing. The group of teens, living with a variety of disabilities and special needs, has adopted Cheerful Givers as a community service project. The students regularly work together to assemble big colorful birthday bags, filled with toys, books, games and treats, for younger, disadvantaged children. The bags, complete with ribbons and handmade birthday cards, are then distributed to Second Harvest Heartland where parents in need can pick one up for their child’s birthday.
The students attend Intermediate District 287’s Vocational Evaluation and Training (VET) Northland program. “Our program partners with local businesses and nonprofits to provide our students with job training skills and a sense of teamwork that helps them work toward greater independence,” says Michelle Hald, work experience coordinator/program facilitator. “A number of years ago we began partnering with Cheerful Givers, to assemble the birthday bags, and it’s turned into a great project for our students. They are always excited to see how many we’re sending out.” The school is expecting to create nearly 25,000 bags by December, Michelle adds.
The work of the students is helping serve an important need in the community. There are thousands of children around us whose parents don’t have the resources to provide a birthday gift, a tangible way of showing them how special they are. The students and staff at District 287’s VET Northland program are a big part of Cheerful Givers’ success and are to be commended for their hard work and big-hearted efforts.
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