The 1st Grade class at Brookwood School recently hosted their third annual Empty Bowl dinner: a cross-curricular presentation for parents to learn more about the class relationship with Wellspring House.
Presented were the six ways in which the class helps Wellspring House over the course of the academic year. In the fall the class plants bulbs on Wellspring’s grounds, in November they donate a Thanksgiving dinner to Wellspring’s shelter guests, in December they donate toys for the Holiday Store, and in spring the class compiles Leaving Baskets – baskets of household items to for those moving out of shelter and into permanent housing. The final event of the year is the Empty Bowl Dinner presentation to share their work.
At the dinner each student shared a sentence or two about their part in the effort. For example the group that donated for Thankgiving relayed the story of how they, “thought of what makes a good Thanksgiving dinner”, “made a shopping list” “rode the school bus to the grocery store”, “carried the ingredients back to Brookwood”, and “delivered the meal to Wellspring House.” This story concluded that, “It felt good to give food to Wellspring’s shelter guests.”
In attendance at the event were Camilla Blackman, Director of Job Training Initiatives, Allison Mueller and Caroline Hovey, both Wellspring Board members. Ms. Blackman spoke to the audience about Wellspring’s purpose. Ms. Mueller spoke about how she came to be involved with Wellspring House as a Brookwood parent and how her involvement has grown into a role as Board member.
Wellspring House has been extremely fortunate to have had a strong partnership with Brookwood School for so many years. Many thanks to this year’s first grade class!
If you are connected with a local school and are interested in getting involved with Wellspring House, please contact Mary Hardwick at (978) 281 3558, extension 300.
Tulips and daffodils planted by Brookwood’s first grade class in bloom this week at Wellspring.