For the third year in a row, the Honeywell Employee Club volunteered at St. David's this summer. Working on outdoor projects including mulching the playgrounds, weeding and adding fresh sand to the playgrounds, they really spruced up our exterior.

 

Much appreciation goes to Honeywell and their continued support and excitement for St. David's.

 

Our Family Place therapeutic preschool program for children at risk of child abuse/neglect recently launched a creative initiative where each child receives a stuffed animal to care for and use in role play while at school.

 

Staff were inspired by National Child Development Expert Lesley Koplow, who shared her therapeutic use of stuffed animals with children in a recent St. David's staff training as well as in her book Bears, Bears Everywhere - Supporting Children's Emotional Health in the Classroom. Staff saw immediate success when they implemented the use of stuffed puppies last summer right before several children "graduated" out of the program.  One child was able to share his feelings by declaring that his puppy "is excited because he's going to kindergarten, but he's sad because he is leaving."

 
Family Place would greatly appreciate the donation of stuffed animals. The program works best if every child in the classroom has identical stuffed animals. Each of the three classrooms has seven to 10 students, with 28 students total enrolled this year.
 

St. David's programs have an ongoing need for items such as:

St. David's 21st Annual Gala will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington.  Corporate and individual sponsorships are currently available. If you're interested in more information, please contact Layne Trout.