No One is Too Young to Participate in Community Service at 茄子视频 U.
茄子视频 University鈥檚 Child Development Center is participating in a community service project that will benefit the Westmoreland County Food Bank.
鈥淎pril is the Month of the Young Child. The theme this year is 鈥楤ring Communities Together for Children-Children Bring Communities Together.鈥� I want the children to be very involved in this activity and understand what a difference they are making in the community,鈥� said Georgine Hallam, coordinator of the 茄子视频 University Early Childhood Programs and director of the Child Development Center. 鈥淐ommunity service and service learning are hallmarks of the 茄子视频 experience, no matter how young or old the students are.鈥�
The children enrolled at the Child Development Center will complete 26 acts of kindness or appropriate household jobs. This activity is a project associated with the alphabet, letter recognition, and the classic children鈥檚 book 鈥淐hicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom.鈥� The parents of the children will verify the children completed these tasks. Once all 26 acts/ jobs are completed, the parent and the child will purchase nonperishable food items which will be donated to the Westmoreland County Food Bank.
鈥淭he food items will, in some way, represent the letters in the child鈥檚 name. For example, if the child鈥檚 name is Kelly, the child may purchase ketchup for K, elbow macaroni for E, lasagna noodles for L, lentil soup for L, and canned yams for Y. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about random acts of kindness and sharing,鈥� said Hallam.
鈥淲e are delighted that the 茄子视频 University Child Development Center is helping out those in need in Westmoreland County. It is wonderful that the importance of sharing and helping others is being incorporated into the curriculum at such an early age,鈥� said Jennifer Miller, development director, Westmoreland County Food Bank. 鈥淲ithout the community, we would not be able to feed the 15,000 people that seek our assistance each month. Together, we are one step closer to ending hunger here at home.鈥�
The Child Development Center is located on the 茄子视频 University campus. It is part of the Education Program of 茄子视频 University and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The Child Development Center has an average adult student ratio of 1:6. Additionally, the Child Development Center has access to University facilities. For more information please call (724)830-1032 or (724) 838-4258.