 Pinewood’s kindergarten through sixth-grade classes each “adopted” a family for the holidays. |
It is easy for students to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season during November and December each year. In the midst of parties, concerts and shopping excursions, and in addition to the regular drill of homework, tests, sports and extracurricular activities, the students at Pinewood School of Los Altos make time to serve the community.
Over the past few years, each class of students in grades kindergarten through six sponsors needy children through the Adopt-a-Family Program, which matches donors with children and their caretakers involved with the Santa Clara County Child Abuse Prevention Center. The program, a joint effort of the Santa Clara County Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Committee and the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services, is administered by the Child Abuse Prevention Center.
Each Pinewood class - with the help of a parent coordinator - adopts one or more underprivileged families. A Pinewood class coordinator has direct interaction with the needy families’ social workers, who provide details on the needs of the family members. The needs and wishes of the families vary greatly. In many of the cases, there would not be any gifts, toys or clothes for the holidays without the Adopt-a-Family Program.
The classes are generally paired with a family with similar-aged children, which helps the students relate to the family’s situation and to know what gifts to purchase for each child.
“I like to know the names and ages of the children that we adopt so we can make special cards,” said Danielle Fernandes, a Pinewood third-grader. “But it really helps when we find out their favorite colors, sports, games and characters. Then, we can pick the right gift for each one.”
The students also participate in an age-appropriate class project, such as making ornaments, holiday cards or special gift wrapping for their adopted families. Some play Santa’s elves, loading up the SUV and delivering the gifts to their adopted families.
For the past three years, Susan Bratton and her daughter, Taylor, 8, have delivered a van full of gifts from her class to their needy families in San Jose. Bratton said it was a meaningful experience for her and her daughter to share. Their adopted families are always excited and overwhelmed at the generosity, she said.
“This service program encourages Pinewood students to think about children that are perhaps less fortunate than themselves, and then it empowers them to make a difference in a direct, meaningful way,” said Gil Brady, principal of Pinewood’s lower and middle campus. “(The program provides) great life lessons for children of all ages.”
The Adopt-a-Family Program at Pinewood is voluntary and run by parents and students. In 2003 and 2004, Pinewood families helped more than 25 families with nearly 60 children.
To learn more about the Adopt-a-Family program, call Jenna Taoka at (408) 975-5382, or e-mail volaides@cws.co.santa-clara.ca.us.
