Amanda Moitoso and her kindergarten class at Greens Farms Elementary School in Westport are among the hundreds of teachers, students, and community members helping make the season brighter for more than 500 schoolchildren throughout the state. By taking part in the annual Holiday Bear program organized by the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF), CEA’s charitable arm, Moitoso’s students sponsored two children whose families are struggling financially this year.
“It was my first year participating in this wonderful project, and I wanted to involve my kindergartners to help them gain a better understanding of the world around them,” Moitoso says. “They were so passionate about helping David and Anna* and spoke of them often. ‘I went shopping for Anna this weekend!’ they said. ‘I wonder if David needs a hat too, because he needs a jacket.’” (*not their real names)
Kindergarten teacher Amanda Moitoso asked her students to reflect on participating in the Holiday Bear project.
“We are so grateful to our generous members and friends who continue to make this annual gift-giving program a huge success,” says CEF President and CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey. “Each year, we work on making it better, and this year we accomplished that by providing durable, roomy duffle bags that sponsors can use to package their gifts and that serve double duty for children and teens using them for sports, overnights, and more.”
Through the Holiday Bear program, teachers who are aware of students in need confidentially nominate those children to receive gifts during the holiday season. They put together lists of items that their students like and need—which could include clothing, toys, books, and more—adding sizes, favorite colors, and other specifics that help ensure a great fit for every child. Sponsors—including CEA members, staff, and community supporters—volunteer to shop, wrap, and deliver.
“As teachers, we often get wrapped up—no pun intended!—in curriculum standards,” Moitoso says. “It’s refreshing to be able to teach to real-world situations and bring that humanity into the classroom. This was a really powerful experience for my students. They were invested in helping their peers, and I am grateful for that opportunity. We will be doing it again!”
While the Holiday Bear program is closed to gift-giving for this holiday season, the need exists year-round. Learn about other ways you can get involved.
