By Gia Hale
Hollister
– The Hollister community donated more than 1,200 books and
board games in an outpouring of support for a deserving group of
kids.
Hollister – The Hollister community donated more than 1,200 books and board games in an outpouring of support for a deserving group of kids.
“These kids haven’t had many adults in their life to care for them and love them, so this sign of caring from the community makes them feel loved,” Chamberlain’s Children Center CEO Doreen Crumrine said.
The book drive was coordinated by state Senator Jeff Denham, who teamed up with the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce to collect the books and games from the community. The senator personally delivered the books to the children yesterday.
“We were surprised to hear that Jeff Denham by himself had decided to collect the books for our school,” Crumrine said. “We were certainly really grateful.”
The nonprofit center is a treatment facility and school for children who have experienced trauma and whose emotional needs prevent them from functioning normally in society.
“I think there’s a huge need here,” Denham said. “We can help the children and raise awareness.”
A class of seven got the chance to meet the senator and ask questions about everything from books to the election in November. Denham explained a little about the electoral process and the four-year term for state senators.
“The outside interaction is very important for the kids,” teacher Reena Sharma said of the visit. The effect was evident in 10-year-old Jayshanea White, who said she was excited to play with the board games.
“You can tell by the excitement in their faces that the books are going to a good cause,” Denham said.
Denham also commented on the playground Chamberlain’s has worked to build on the campus.
“It’s great to see the playground being completed,” he said.
Leaders at Chamberlain’s had previously brought the kids to community playgrounds, where the safety of the center’s children as well as others at the park was a concern. They determined that there was need for a playground on Chamberlain’s campus.
“We really needed this piece for the kids’ treatment,” Crumrine said. “Play is extremely important for children to grow and develop the skills they need in society.”
The playground has been made to look aesthetically like a community playground in order to prevent the from children feeling isolated or different from society.
“The playground was designed and made for them, so it makes them feel special and cared for,” Crumrine said.
Another recent accomplishment of the Chamberlain’s Children Center was the completion of the fence project last November.
“It’s an important safety piece for the school,” Crumrine said. “We had direct access to a busy roadway, and because of their compulsive behavior, it was like playing Russian Roulette.”
Though the children at Chamberlain’s require some extra support, their caretakers are confident that they will be able to make the transition into society.
“For me, there are no challenges; I love all of them,” Sharma said. “We teach each child according to their needs, and as soon as their behavior is improved, we send them to public school and try to mainstream them.”
Sharma also said the school is always in need of book donations, money toward art and craft supplies, furniture and computers in good condition that can access the Internet. For more information on how to donate, visit www.chamberlaincc.org.
