Great group of students in this semester Gender Media course, who collected 29 stuffed animals to give to the children of Sunflower House, a non-profit organization with a mission to protect children from physical or sexual abuse.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hope House Contributions
The spring 2019 Gender Media class voted to give donations to Hope House, a local domestic violence shelter. Thanks for participating in t...
-
Students presented about various gender and LGBTQ issues around the world. This gave us a lot to think about in terms of issues and situ...
The class project of donating stuffed animals to Sunflower House was a heartwarming experience. When I was younger stuffed animals used to be my toy of choice, I loved every single one that I had. The idea of giving that same warm, loving feeling to a child in need is really incredible. I understand and agree with the anonymous donation concept but it would still be really cool to see all the little kiddos get their new friends just the same!
ReplyDeleteI find it especially awesome that our little stuffed animal friends are going to the Sunflower House. With it being the holiday season I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for the families who are there. Being displaced from their homes and their normal routine while still maintaining the cheerful feeling associated with this time of year must be no easy feat for the mothers and the staff. I’m really proud of us as a class for picking such a necessary and beautiful organization to give back to.
Alyssa Winters
This class project that gender media has done, with the stuffed animals going to Sunflower house, was a very successful and well thought of project to do. I myself think that this was a very great idea and I like going out and trying to find a really cute stuffed animal to give to children. I know as a little kid that stuffed animals were really cool to have and fun to cuddle with. I also thought that this was really good idea because it's close to Christmas season and these kids will be getting these stuffed animals probably as a Christmas present. That is an amazing gift to give to these children that have had things taken from him like their homes or things that they used to have. I really did like doing this project for sunflower house and would have been more than happy to do more.
ReplyDeleteChildren are the backbone to our society and as such, we need to protect them and raise them properly. This ideology is what influenced our choice of a project. My friends and I, all of us who were taking the Gender Media Course, decided to do something together for the children of Sunflower House. Sunflower house is a Children’s Advocacy Center located in Shawnee, and its goal is to protect children from physical and sexual abuse through education, advocacy, and medical services. The organization was, therefore, a perfect fit for us. After the decision was made to visit Sunflower House, next came the planning. It was uncertain what would be best to take to the center, so we settled on collecting stuffed animals and taking them to the children at the center. We managed to collect 29 stuffed animals. We then visited the Sunflower house and spent the day with the children. We distributed the stuffed animal to the children and generally had a great day. The Sunflower House is an inspiring organization that advocates for much positivity towards the children, especially girl children. Raising children right is not just the role of the parents anymore, but we as a community have to join hands and make sure that the next generation grows up with love and care. I hope to be involved in more of these events in the future.
ReplyDeleteScott Bower
ReplyDeleteI am really glad that this is a project for this class. Not only does it give heartwarming gifts to children, it also allows for the students to experience what it feels like to give to something without asking for something in return. I suspect that there are students in class that have never done anything like this and it could be the start for them to continue acts of kindness. My father and I did a similar thing with our Masonic Lodge a few years ago. We bought a large number of teddy bears and gave them to children who came to our Christmas dinner. Afterwards, we had a lot left over and decided to donate them to the Sheriff’s department. Officers kept a teddy bear in their trunk to give to upset children when responding to a call. Being courteous and thinking of others is something that should be more frequent in society and I think that our project is an excellent example of that. Especially considering that the holidays are approaching and these stuffed animals could very well be a child’s gift. With that said, this project is certainly worthwhile and rewarding. If students in the future want to do an even bigger project with more work involved, I say go for it. This stands as a win-win situation.
This particular semester I was exposed to several social injustices we are facing today. As time passed, I felt completely powerless and like there is little I can do to change the world. This activity completely changed that. Going out and looking for a gift to give reminded me that fighting for justice is not always a grand, glorious gesture or a passionate speech one gives. Changing the world can mean buying a toy for a child who needs one. It was pleasing to know that it was anonymous and we gave not for the taste of self-gratification, but rather for kids who may never know who we are and yet, know that someone somewhere cares about them. My hope is for the kids to have a buddy to cuddle with and who is completely their very own, perhaps in their innocence someone who will "listen" to them. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity, and also to be made aware of an organization who is fighting for justice. I am also proud of our culture at Avila of connecting students with organizations and activists who are lovers of human rights and social justice. Please continue this tradition of giving!
ReplyDeleteI gained a lot through doing this community project. I have had the chance to visit the Sunflower House once when I was in high school and I got to talk about what kids and families go through and its very sad situations these kids are experiencing. Getting to take part in something like this for those children who are going through difficult times is very rewarding. It seems like a small thing to bring a stuffed animal, but once all the stuffed animals were together in the room on the desk, it was so neat. To know that I’m making a difference in even just one child’s life through bringing a stuffed animal, is fulfilling. As a psychology major, working with kids is what I want to do, and I may want to eventually become a therapist or counselor. I would want to work at places like Sunflower House because I want to make a difference and be a light in a kids’ life. I do believe that this project is worthwhile because it seems like a small thing, but in the eyes of the children getting the stuffed animals it is not.
ReplyDeleteAvery Ralson
DeleteThis project was the perfect wrap up for this class. After hearing several speakers and being exposed to the material of this class and also hearing all the differences of each country and the conditions in which some people live it is very nurturing to be able to actually help out some people. For sure after learning all I did in this class I was able to be more aware of several topics and issues that I never really looked into. And as a matter of fact, there are many things and activities I use to say and do that have changed since the start of the class.
ReplyDeleteAs far as this last experience with the stuffed animals to those child’s in need on this month that everyone is expecting gifts and love. I feel honored to be able to help and give joy to one person on the holiday’s.
Hernan
I think everyone should participate in a community project in their life at least once if not many more. It is so important to give back to the community that way the future generations to come do the same in the future. Giving back to the community, especially the less fortunate feels so good knowing that we bring smiles on to their faces even in the roughest times of their life. Many, many people in this world today struggle every day to make ends meet whether that is financial, not having a family, without a job, losing a loved one, etc. Even the people who you think have it all, have a perfect life experience tragedies that leave them feeling hopeless. There’s no such thing as a perfect life, which is why we all should give back to the community to bring light back into the lives of those that are living in darkness even if that means buying a stuffed animal as we did for class. I am thankful that I haven’t experienced a life-changing situation but even I live life for small things because I find a lot of happiness in them. So I can not even imagine how much happiness small things bring to those that experience life's hardships.
ReplyDeleteMatti Morgan
I feel that this was the perfect wrap up for the class. It encompassed everything that we had talked about in class. Things like equality and getting out in the community and making a difference. It makes a person feel good knowing that they can make a difference through something small as buying a stuffed animal. I know that the kids will appreciate the small gift of a stuffed animal. Which is why this project is worth while in the long run because there is nothing better than performing an act of kindness not because you are forced to but because you want to. This project has really helped me to appreciate the small things in life and how big of an impact it can make in the world we live in today. Expanding up on the fact that in thus crazy world there is still some good left to be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteMyron DeBerry
DeleteDonating stuffed animals to the Sun Flower house went great! Knowing that I put a smile on someone’s face makes me feel so good about myself and about how they are going to feel. It is definitely something that needs to be done consistently around the world. The more that people give the better it makes the community, surroundings, and those who aren’t able to get certain things for themselves or their families. I feel people forget about how effective giving someone a simple gift could be, even if its a gift of love and compliments. I will remember this forever and use it as a base to start giving more and later in life start a foundation that focuses on giving back and helping families in need. I know the children will be excited for their stuffed animals and will cherish them for a long time. In this world nothing comes easy so an act of kindness will show how much things could change for the better.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed doing this project. I think this helped us to open our eyes and shows us that a lot of student in class making the time to help this kids, I was very happy when the teacher gave us the money to help other people. It was a new experience for me to buy gifts for people I don’t know. I am glad our class chose to get involved with this organization to help this kids and make them happy. And show this kids we are here to help and they are not alone here. Now in the future I will definitely consider it as habit every year I will donate . I think this project should be continued in the future classes as it was really eye opening and makes a difference in the community. And I hope all the students in my class will do the same to help this kids every year and support the organization with money or toys and do not stop helping other organization to make people happy.
ReplyDeleteI think this project was a wonderful idea. Implementing it into the end of the class was a smart and pleasant way to end a semester. I am glad we were able to come together as a class to contribute to a wonderful organization. Holidays can be a very difficult time, especially for children who have been in a bad domestic situation and are being moved around for the sake of their own safety. This organization is a great place to contribute to. They are very helpful for children and families and I am very glad we had the opportunity to contribute to the children of this organization. It was very heart-warming to see everyone walking in with a smile on their face, holding the animals they brought in. Then seeing them all together on the tables was very pleasing. It is great knowing that these children will receive a stuffed animal, especially since Christmas is near. This will be something they can keep and take with them throughout their journeys. Hopefully this can be at least a small sense of comfort and stability for these children and their families.
ReplyDeleteI felt like this project was very successful and a great idea. I have personally never done very much charity or community work but I felt this was one very cool and influential. The project to donate stuffed animals to children is clever and helpful and so simple. It’s the little things that make a huge difference in the world. The timing of this project was also nothing short of perfect and I love how just this simple act of kindness can be a huge thing to kids or families that are in need. Overall helping out the community felt great and spreading joy and love is a great thing for this time of year.
ReplyDeleteTristan Askan
Christian Howe,
ReplyDeleteThis final project has been one of the greatest ideas that I have seen a class do. I wish that more classes would try to make a difference because there are many peoples live that can be changed even by something as small as a stuffed animal. It really means a lot to me because it is a organization that I have worked with so many times in the past and the fact that I got to bring others to these kids aid makes me feel like I can still make a difference. I also loved the fact that so many people brought multiple stuff animals. Also the wide range of animals we had that made it so that all the different types of kids have a better chance of finding a animal that really speaks out to them. I hope that I can try and take this idea and put into the other classes that I have because I think that it will really get the school as a whole into the community more and give the school a little more example of the values it says it represents. Again thank you guys so much for choosing Sunflower house and I encourage you all to volunteer some time with them in the future.
I believe it’s a great thing to do. Helping the community is a great thing to do even if it was with something like stuffed animals. These things we think are small or won’t make us happy will still make lots of people and children’s day. I personally think this’s a great idea and makes someone’s day. Sometimes a word can make differeance to adults, so what if that was a kid. I’m sure if you see a kid’s smile of something you did for him/her, probably would make your day too. Actually I’m sure it will!!! I really appreciate this idea and I hope this won’t be the last time for mebor any of my classmates.
ReplyDeleteHesham Albadr
“Giving is caring” and we learn this through practicing this in our class project where we donate stuffed animals to Sunflower house. It was heart-warming experience for me to feel the happiness on the faces of little ones when they see those toys. This act of charity implies the deliberate giving of assistance to those in need, as a compassionate demonstration. It additionally considers the students to encounter what it feels like to provide for something without requesting something in return. We choose to give stuffed animals as it instantly give the feeling of warmth and love for that particular thing. I remember as kid I used to love my stuffed toys as it makes me feel cosy and warm. I discover it particularly great that our little squishy toy companions are setting off to the Sunflower House. As this is Christmas season, I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to be away from your place and being dislodged from their homes and their ordinary daily schedule while as yet keeping up the bright inclination related with this season must be no simple accomplishment for their staff. I'm extremely glad for us as a class for picking such a vital and lovely association to offer back to them in order to spread.
ReplyDeletesilmin alghamdi
Doing this project was a great idea in my opinion. Not only are we being able to make children happy we are being able to do something nice and good for ourselves. I enjoy being able to make anyone smile. Although psychically being able to hand them the stuffed animals would’ve been great having the thought of just knowing the children will enjoy them and be surprised and happy makes me feel good about myself. It’s always great to help your community especially children so I enjoyed participating in this project.
ReplyDeleteEre’Shay Winters
I am grateful for the opportunity to do this community project. I feel its important to get involved in our communities, especially during the holiday season. In the midst of Christmas we often get caught up in the act of receiving and we tend to be neglectful in the act of giving. What giving we may doing is for ourselves and our families. Most of us tend to forget that there are lots of families who without help, will not have a Christmas at all. Donating stuffed animals to Sunflower house was a powerful experience. It is nice to know that even if you don't have much to give, every little bit counts. We as a class were able to donate 29 animals- that allows 29 kids to receive a gift for Christmas who otherwise may have gotten nothing at all. Those kids deserve to be happy on Christmas, no matter the circumstances and it is a gift in its own that we were able to help.
ReplyDelete