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Spirit of Giving in Time for the Holidays

by Bill Dusty

Spreading holiday cheer to children in need at the Sumner Avenue Elementary School, the Springfield non-profit group Springfield Forward donated boxes of coats, gloves, sweaters, and other donated goods this December, according to a press release issued by the group.

“Knowing this school is at the 70% poverty level, and recognizing we are in the midst of extremely difficult economic times, many students are in need of a warm winter coat, a sweater, a hat, scarf or gloves to keep them warm,” said Springfield Forward member Ellen Pappas in a quote from the release. “We’ve made it part of our organization’s mission to step up to the plate and help where we can. This is our city, our neighborhood, these are our kids, and we need to begin with a positive message from the community that we care, that we are willing to get involved. No one can learn when they are cold or hungry. No one can learn without books,” she said.

The local non-profit also sponsors a reading program called “Tell Me Your Story,” where members volunteer each week “to help students develop a love of reading by engaging them in writing and illustrating their own stories,” said Springfield Forward’s Richard Carpenter in another quote from the release . “Last year we helped over 100 students write, illustrate, laminate and bind their own books. The look on their faces as they read their stories to the rest of the class is priceless.”

According to the release, the group plans to resume its “Tell Me Your Story” program this coming January, with the aim of having the entire 4th grade class at Sumner Avenue writing their own stories by the end of the school year.

Springfield Forward made headlines this past year for its opposition to a planned redevelopment project that would create over 100 units of affordable housing on Longhill Street, in an already struggling community that straddles Forest Park and the city’s South End district. The group wants to ensure that its other charitable efforts, such as food and clothing donations, reading programs, and also its membership support for Habitat for Humanity, do not get overlooked.

Anyone interested in participating in the “Tell Me Your Story” program, or who would like to donate books or clothing for needy students, is urged to contact Springfield Forward at springfieldforward@yahoo.com

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Posted by Bill Dusty on Dec 26th, 2008 and filed under Cities & Towns. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.