“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>Fifth-graders at Gibson Elementary in the Riverview Gardens School District used their hearts and sewing skills to bring some smiles to orphan in Haiti, sending 56 teddy bears and five quilts they made to children in Haiti through the Haiti Orphan Project. Since January, 56 fifth-graders volunteered to trade their recess time to sew together their gifts under the guidance of Jeannie Legg, a Special School District teacher at Gibson, and fifth-grade teachers Amy Lombardo and Rebecca Buss.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“When they’re sitting and sewing, children feel more at ease to talk to each other and build positive relationships,” said Legg. “When making the quilts, they learned to work together, socialize and keep focused on a goal.”
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The Haiti Orphan Project is a St. Louis-based non-profit initiative of the Keane Charitable Group that brings school supplies, food, clothing and housing items to children who have been orphaned or abandoned in Haiti. The project, directed by Les Prouty, also is planning to build a church, orphanage and school near the city of Arcahaie, Haiti.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“The Haiti children don’t typically get things like these, so these donated gifts will bring a lot of smiles,” said Prouty.
