TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Students Sell Sweets To Assist Foster Children

ADVERTISEMENT

By MEGAN HUSSEY, Tribune Correspondent

Published: February 17, 2008

Each year, the Sand Pine Elementary student council sells Valentine's candy-grams to benefit school-related projects.

This year, though, students and teachers decided to give the money to The Children's Home in Tampa, which helps foster children.

Students raised $800 selling the candy-grams - cards with lollipops and special Valentine's greetings - for The Children's Home, which provides shelter, therapy and placement services for children in the foster care system.

"Usually, the kids only buy Valentine's grams for their best friends," said Melody Welt, a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and student council adviser. "When they found out they'd be helping kids less fortunate, they bought for so many more of their friends and family members. They showed good will."

Aside from raising money, the Hearts for Homes project opened students' eyes.

"They couldn't believe that there could be students their age who didn't have a place to stay," Welt said. "Because it was about kids, the project was very personal to them."

To further personalize this benefit, fourth- and fifth-grade students read "Pictures of Hollis Woods," a book about a foster child.

"We read the book aloud and discussed the importance of caring, respect and giving to others," said Amanda Jordan, another fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and student council adviser.

The story made an impression on many of the students.

"I was really drawn into the book," said Tristan Chase, 11. "I felt like I was a real foster child."

Reading the book helped students make a deeper connection to the foster children for whom they were raising money.

"I felt happy that we'd be helping kids like Hollis," said fifth-grader Maria Vera, 11.
Student council members sold and delivered the candy-grams and spread word about the project. As well as ordering the candy-grams for friends and family members, students encouraged their parents to buy them.

Parents and students also sent in cash donations for Hearts for Homes, as well as comforters, linens, toothpaste, shampoo and other necessities.

"The Children's Home gave us a list of supplies needed by the kids," Welt said.

The photo of every child who made a donation was posted on a heart-shaped display in the school cafeteria. Monday, fourth- and fifth-graders attended an assembly with Lisa Braswell, director of public education and communications at The Children's Home.

She told students The Children's Home is the oldest charity on the west coast of Florida and houses 60 children in residential cottages.

"Many of them were abused or neglected," Braswell said. "They need a temporary place, known as foster care."

Aside from providing these children with food, clothes and shelter, The Children's Home provides intensive counseling, with the eventual goal of either returning them to their parents or placing them in a more suitable home.

Beyond what it receives in government funding, The Children's Home needs to raise more than $2 million annually to support its services.

"Our ultimate goal is that we want them in loving homes," Braswell told the children. "Your donation is important to make sure these kids have a happy life, and it means a lot when it comes from kids."

Holli Ward, Sand Pine's 11-year-old student council president, said the project showed students what they could accomplish.

"It feels so good just to know that someone out there is receiving your help," the fifth-grader said. "We can make a difference in the world."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT