New Canaan Country School Collects and Assembles Oral Health Kits for Americares

Students ages three through 15 worked hand-in-hand with parents, grandparents, teachers and representatives from Americares, to assemble and count the kits.

 

“I really like helping,” said seventh grader Maggie Ruvinsky, “It makes me feel like I’m having an impact.”

 

“It’s so cool how many toothbrushes we got,” said fourth grader Aoife Flanagan, “It’s so much fun to work together to package them and to know that we are helping someone.”

 

This project is part of an ongoing partnership between the school and the locally-based humanitarian aid organization which began four years ago. Members of Americares’ Emergency Response teams have visited the school several times to share about the work they are doing and students have held several fundraisers to support the organization.

 

“By partnering with a local organization with a global reach, our students have really been able to understand the causes and effects of natural disasters, including the long-term impacts,” said Director of Community Development Lynn Sullivan, who serves as the school’s liaison. “They’ve also had multiple ways to meaningfully contribute. This is really what makes the difference between community service and service learning. The students gain just as much as the people who will ultimately receive the dental kits.”

 

Holly Donaldson Casella, an alumna from Country School’s Class of 2004, is a development officer for Americares and helped to organize this project.

 

“I love coming back to Country School and sharing what I know now. But mostly, it’s so gratifying to see the kids so earnestly at work trying to help others. It’s important for kids to see the impact that they can have so early in life and I think that’s something that they will take forward to high school, college and beyond … perhaps even into their careers,” said Casella.