The Importance of Community This Giving Season
Children at Episcopal experience countless community building activities in the classroom, in Chapel, and at school-wide events. To expand upon Episcopal’s core value of community, the school hosts two charity drives in partnership with local organizations. These drives help encourage community building beyond Episcopal. Through their involvement, children begin to learn what it means to care for their neighbors and to be a part of the wider New York City community.
Each November, Episcopal families fill tables in the Chapel with cans, jars, and other nonperishable goods for a food drive benefiting City Harvest. Classes take turns painting, coloring, and decorating cardboard boxes to fill with donations before they are picked up by the City Harvest team and distributed to food pantries and soup kitchens across the city. Together, the Episcopal community accumulated over 800 pounds of food for those in need.
In December, Episcopal collects new hats, mittens, and scarves for an annual winter clothing drive on behalf of the Children’s Aid Society. The Children’s Aid Society is a local organization that has supported children, youth, and families in high-need New York City neighborhoods since 1853. Episcopal families bring their donations down to the Red Rug Room together and hang the clothing items on the holiday garland adorning the Chapel walls. The donations decorate the shared community space ahead of the Holiday Chapels and assemblies, bringing extra warmth to these winter events. They also serve as a reminder of the importance of community both inside and outside of the School this holiday season.
