Classes at Ladd Lane collect supplies and notes for island
orphanage
By Sara Blomquist
SPECIAL TO THE PINNACLE
Ladd Lane Elementary School children learned recently how some
common items such as pillowcases and crayons are hard to come by in
places such as Haiti, an island nation that is still recovery from
a 2010 earthquake.
Classes at Ladd Lane collect supplies and notes for island orphanage
By Sara Blomquist
SPECIAL TO THE PINNACLE
Ladd Lane Elementary School children learned recently how some common items such as pillowcases and crayons are hard to come by in places such as Haiti, an island nation that is still recovery from a 2010 earthquake.
LouAnn Sackett, a third-grade teacher from Ladd Lane Elementary, was in Haiti recently, visiting New Life to the Children Orphanage to take supplies and hope to the children. Josue Joassaint, the man who oversees the orphanage, was in Hollister in February and came to the school to talk with the third and fifth-grade classes. Many of the students responded to the pictures and stories they were shown, walking away with a desire to give something to the Haitian children.
Sackett and a few of her close friends pooled money together to purchase a sewing machine, giving the women who work at the orphanage a means of making dresses or tops out of the pillowcases. Along with the basic clothing needs, she said she also hopes the women can turn a profit from sewing projects made with the sewing machine.
“The orphanage only has three hours of electricity a day, so the sewing machine will be invaluable,” Sackett explained.
That was just the beginning of the giving. After Joassaint talked with the students, they all felt the desire to help. Sackett had two large suitcases filled with sewing and school supplies, which the children brought in for the last few weeks. Ms. Damm’s third-grade class, along with Mrs. Lloyd’s third-grade class, have also been involved with contributing. Crayons, pencils and basic paper are on the list of the supplies desperately needed for the newly opened school at the orphanage. Even fun supplies such as sidewalk chalk and bubbles are making their way to the children.
The classes are also sending along another special person from their classrooms, Flat Stanley. Flat Stanley, a character from a line of children’s books written by Jeff Brown, has been a long-term project in the class. Each child in class sent their own Flat Stanley to family or friends all over the world. Some have made it to Texas, Washington, Taiwan and South Africa. Each student has made a Flat Stanley, plus a letter, that they are sending to individual children in the orphanage program. The pen pal project has the students excited to be in contact with Haitian children.
“They get to see what we do in school here,” said Shane Bonura, a third-grader in Sackett’s class.
Along with the third-graders involvement, Mrs. Matsui’s fifth-grade class made friendship bracelets to send to the children. The students realize how little the children in Haiti have, and want to send them something they can enjoy.
“I now know that before I say that I don’t have anything, I should think of Haiti,” Rachel Peterson said.
The stories Joassaint told touched the students in many ways, but all of them saw how devastated Haiti was by the earthquake.
“They need money and homes,” Jacob Anda said. “Children lost parents, and parents lost children. Haiti needs our help.”
Sara Blomquist is the parent of a Ladd Lane Elementary School student.
