PEABODY — Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josh Vadala recently recognized the efforts of the third- and fourth-grade students from McCarthy School who worked together to donate key supplies to Citizens Inn’s food pantry, Haven From Hunger.
Third-grade teacher Jill Houlden’s class topped the donation charts. For her classroom project, Houlden solicited donations of diapers from family and friends. Bolstered by the support of community members, students in Houlden’s class collected 1,329 diapers.
The students were challenged to connect their learning to a sense of giving, by having a donation to Haven From Hunger made in their names when they achieved personalized learning goals in class. Houlden said she solicited friends and family for diaper donations. Every time a student met a goal, they received a box of diapers.
“Ms. (Jane) O’Brien and Ms. Houlden have worked incredibly hard to inspire their students and instill a spirit of giving, which was on display through these efforts,” Vadala said. “Forging a connection between personal learning goals and community giving is equal parts innovative and inspirational, and it will directly benefit people in our community who are in need of a helping hand.”
The school’s Coffee Bean Club — advised by O’Brien — led an effort to collect donations of hats and gloves, children’s shampoo, cereal and children’s snacks.
In all, the 20 members of the club collected more than a dozen boxes of items that were donated to Haven From Hunger.
“There’s so many community members willing to help out, you just have to ask and be positive,” Houlden said. “The kids were really excited about the Coffee Bean Club, it kind of blew through the school. They were really into it.”
Students also donated 285 gift bags full of spring fun to No Child Goes Hungry in Peabody. The bags contained items like chalk, jump rope, paddle boards, jacks and balls.
“You guys did a great job in packaging it all together,” said School Committee member Jarrod Hochman. “We, at No Child Goes Hungry, appreciate what the club is doing.”
The Coffee Bean Club was founded by O’Brien as a service-focused organization for students, based on the book by the same name.
The book emphasizes the way in which coffee beans respond to being placed in hot water by making the water into something better — coffee — rather than softening the way a carrot does, or hardening against its surroundings in the way eggs do.
O’Brien said the book and club are designed to teach kids how to help others, show resilience, confront difficult situations and work within their community.
Students shared the book’s message with the McCarthy community.
“They explained what it means to be a coffee bean,” said O’Brien. “They were excited to exchange with their peers the three rules of the coffee bean — help others, include everybody and smile.”
Additionally, Rick Sandler, a Peabody High School graduate and former Peabody Municipal Light Plant employee, thought so much of the project that he donated $1,000 to Haven From Hunger on behalf of McCarthy students.
The money was initially slated to be used to bolster the drive. After discussion with Citizens Inn staff, the money was donated directly to Citizens.
“That way they use it to meet their needs instead of being overwhelmed with diapers,” Houlden said.
O’Brien said the club plans to continue its good work next year.
“They loved it and while we’re done with it, we’re definitely going to do it again next year,” she said. “It’s a great club.”
