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Crow Island students give back for the holidays
Claudia Cramer (left) and Lila Worth, kindergarteners at Crow Island School in Winnetka, demonstrate how the kindergarten classes decorated four blankets to donate to the New Trier Township Food Pantry on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times
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Updated: December 23, 2012 6:11AM
WINNETKA — Crow Island School’s kindergarten teachers often discuss a concept called “filling your bucket” with their students.
The method, based on the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud, is based on carrying around an invisible bucket and filling that bucket with the good deeds you do each day.
“Everyone goes around all the time carrying this invisible bucket of feelings,” said kindergarten teacher Sheila Medow. “It’s really about what you can do to fill those buckets. If you fill someone else’s bucket it also fills yours.”
The upcoming holiday season has given Crow Island students and staff plenty of opportunity to fill their buckets. Earlier this year the school took part in a food drive and recently the kindergarten classes assembled four fleece blankets to be donated to the New Trier Township Food Pantry.
Each blanket will be given to a child in a needy family from the area in time for the holiday season.
Barb Tubekis, executive director of the Volunteer Center, came to the school to accept the blankets on behalf of the food pantry and spoke with the students about the importance of giving to others.
“When you see someone who has fallen on the playground, what do you do?” Tubekis said. “You help them. The important thing is we always look for ways to help people.”
Each student took turns tying knots around the edge of the no-sew, double fleece blankets. The blankets were then presented to Tubekis by each class.
“You’re going to make four little kids feel really, really good when they cuddle up with these blankets,” Tubekis said. “There are families out there having a tough time so it’s very wonderful that you made these.”
Tubekis, who had her own children attend classes at Crow Island School, stressed the importance of helping others and asked the children and families to consider picking up extra groceries to donate to the food pantry, not just this season, but throughout the year.
“There are about 100 families who cannot buy their own food right now (that are served by the New Trier food pantry) throughout Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth and Northfield,” Tubekis said. “When you take something in, the staff will say, ‘Thank you so much,’ and you’ll know you’ve done something to help somebody.”
The New Trier Township Food Pantry, located at 739 Elm St., in Winnetka, accepts non-perishable food donations, blankets and toiletries year round. More information is available at www.volunteercenterhelps.org.
