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Early Childhood Education Students Raise Funds for NANA’s House
Posted on April 11, 2012 Local school district students who attend Eastern Suffolk BOCES and are preparing for a career working with preschool children decided to make a difference in the lives of children who need a safe, secure, and loving home. ESBOCES Early Childhood Education (ECE) students engage in community service projects several times a year under the direction of their teacher Gail Klepper. This year, the SkillsUSA students chose to adopt NANA’s House, a group children’s home for neglected, abused, needy, or abandoned children. Fundraising for NANA’s House was a perfect fit for the ECE students. NANA’s House depends on contributions to continue their good work and the students wanted to make a difference in the lives of children. The students collected clothing, toys, games, toiletries, and non-perishable food items, sold bakery items; and also accepted donations.  Early Childhood Education students Danielle Bellucci, Hampton Bays UFSD; Dawn Connolly, Miller Place UFSD; Kathleen Gaffga, Southold UFSD; Jenifer Castillo, Sag Harbor UFSD; Samantha Rodriguez, Eastport/South Manor CSD; Stephanie Merino-Romano, Greenport UFSD; Victoria Piro, East Moriches UFSD pose with Principal Sam McAleese and ECE teacher Gail Klepper (both standing) with some of the many donations that were made to NANA's House.
Students who choose to be enrolled in the ECE program are preparing for a career as teachers or child care providers. The on-site preschool laboratory provides high school students the opportunity to work with 3- to 5-year-old children. They learn the importance of providing a safe and secure environment so preschoolers can learn. NANA’s House provides for children in the same manner. They strive to provide loving homes for children whose parents or guardians cannot care for them.  K Mart Assistant Area Manager Justin Tressel donates $25 on behalf of K-Mart to ESBOCES Early Childhood Education students Brittany Gray, Eastport/South Manor CSD, Jennifer Tressler, Shoreham-Wading River CSD, Michele Sauter, Eastport/South Manor CSD, and Katerina Mileski, Shoreham-Wading River CSD. Brittany is also an employee at the Riverhead K-Mart.
Brittany Gray, an Eastport-South Manor CSD senior in the ECE program, and an employee at the Riverhead K-Mart, asked her supervisor if a donation could be made on behalf of K-Mart to NANA’s house. A donation was approved in the amount of $25. Assistant Area Manager Justin Tressel was pleased to present the gift card to Brittany and her classmates: Jennifer Tressler and Katerina Mileski, Shoreham-Wading River CSD; and Michele Sauter, Eastport-South Manor CSD. Mr. Tressel said, “Brittany is an excellent employee and we are happy to help make a difference.” Brittany said, “It’s exciting to see the amount of donations we received. So many people wanted to make a difference. The community service project was a huge success.” The students will now venture to Syracuse, New York to provide an oral, written, and visual presentation at a State level SkillsUSA Competition pertaining to this community service project. |
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