Tobin kids take a stand

PHOTO SUBMITTED: Last week, students attending Tobin’s Summer Program held a food drive and lemonade stand to collect supplies and raise funds for the Westwood Food Pantry. Pictured above (in the back row) are group leaders Patty O’Rouke, Liz Curran, Kaitlin Walsh and Jaclyn Claus. Students were Liam Dullea, Will Stairs, William Leonard, Jack Sullivan, Joseph Goff, Jessica Wen, Krista Austras, John Bracco, Devin Bellevue, Gabi Daher, Andrew Ma, Abby Smigielski, Crissy Cedrone and Anna Feloni.

ABIGAIL DAVIDSON, Hometown Weekly Staff 23.AUG.07

Last Wednesday, pedestrians and motorists passing the Tobin School were greeted by the sight of fourteen five and six-year-olds, waving and cheering at passersby to stop and enjoy some lemonade. Unlike the typical summer lemonade stand, whose proceeds normally end up in the piggy bank, these young entrepreneurs used the cash they raised to fight hunger and help stock the shelves of the Westwood Food Pantry.

Each summer, children attending Tobin’s Summer Program participate in a community service program. In years past, youngsters have filled and decorated Birthday Bags for children whose parents cannot afford birthday presents and held a winter coat drive.

But, when Jaclyn Claus, Program Director for the Tobin After School Program in Westwood, received a flyer from the Food Pantry asking for help, she saw an opportunity to have her students make a real difference in the community.

“This time of year lots of people are on vacation, so the Food Pantry needs extra help,” explains Claus. “I wanted the kids to come up with a community service project and we thought this would be a great idea.”

The fourteen students, ranging in age from Kindergarteners to first graders, spent two weeks planning for their combined food drive and lemonade stand. Days were spent creating and posting flyers announcing the event, coloring bright posters and decorating the stand. On the morning of Wednesday, August 15th, kids squeezed lemons, inflated balloons and got ready to attract thirsty residents over to their booth for a sweet, midday treat.

Says Claus, “All of the kids helped to make the lemonade and squeezed lemons and decorated the stand with balloons. During the drive, they chanted at cars as the passed by. They had a lot of fun.”

According to Claus, not only did the children learn more about the importance of helping others, but also they surpassed their goal of raising $100 for the Food Pantry and were able to make $114 in addition to collecting “a ton” of cans.

“A lot of kids and their families donated money, which we used to buy cans and supplies, such as toothpaste, which the pantry tends to be low on. A lot of people who drove by stopped to donate money too,” recalls Claus.

Due to the success of this year’s drive, Claus is hopeful that the lemonade stand/ food drive will become an annual summer event.

“It’s good for the kids to be aware of other people who need things and for us to try to help out when we can. At the school, we’re always trying to think of new ideas to help people,” explains Claus. “They had a lot of fun with the lemonade stand. Hopefully we’ll be able to make it an annual thing. A food drive is always needed.”

Students who worked on the lemonade stand/ food drive included Liam Dullea, Will Stairs, William Leonard, Jack Sullivan, Joseph Goff, Jessica Wen, Krista Austras, John Bracco, Devin Bellevue, Gabi Daher, Andrew Ma, Abby Smigielski, Crissy Cedrone and Anna Feloni. 

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1st experience with ‘fun’draising for Tobin kids!
Source: Needham Hometown Weekly
Date: June 13, 2007

All students of the school took part in the fun of the Tobin Afterschool car wash. All money raised was donated to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Cloudy skies and an unseasonably cold June afternoon did not stop the kids of Tobin Afterschool from holding a charity car wash, the first student run fundraiser in the school’s history.

Inspired by Needham’s town-wide emphasis on community service, the students and teachers wanted to do their part. Weeks ago, they began scouting out a cause to donate to. The students were given individual stories of children in the Make A Wish Foundation and decided that this organizations would be the beneficiary of their efforts.

“We really liked their stories,” said Brenna Griffin, 12, a Tobin student responsible for the media portion of the car wash. “They were the most similar to us [students].”

Each student then decided what role he or she would like to play in the afternoon event. Nine-year-old Clio Ruiz knew what job she wanted from day one.

“I go up to cars and say, ‘Would you like a car wash?’” said the eager student just as another car pulled into the lot. When asked why she chose the role of “greeter” she said simply, “Because I’m a people person.”

Ruiz managed to rope in several more dirty automobiles throughout the day as she led the pack of fellow greeters.

There were multiple “washers,” and despite the crisp weather, most students didn’t mind getting wet. However, the kids weren’t opposed to switching jobs on the fly.

“Everybody is participating and involved and nobody is stressed,” said Brenna. “We just had a lady say her car looked gorgeous.”

As the children doled out lemonade and instructed the clientele to role their windows up, the staff of Tobin oversaw the operation from a distance.

“The car wash was totally the kids’ idea,” said Stephanie Beaudet, psychology coordinator for Tobin. “It had been hard to get them interested in what to do [for community service] until this.”

Baudet explained that the children began to discuss plans and research their cause in groups or individually and the car wash combined with the Make A Wish Foundation was something that everyone rallied around.

“This is a first for us,” she said of the entirely student-run fundraiser.

Harvey’s Hardware donated the washing materials.