Baldwin High School Community Service Project Helps Give Children in Need a ‘Happy Halloween’
Fashion Students Spread Joy This Spooky Season by Making Stuffed Monsters for the Bethany House
This Halloween, in Baldwin High School's fashion class, there are no tricks, only ‘treats!’ The high school students engaged in a community service project, applying the sewing skills and hand stitching techniques they have learned in class. Together, they created felt monster stuffed animals for the families at the Bethany House—a local non-profit that supports women and their children who are currently experiencing homelessness and are in need of support as they transition to a more stable living situation.
The project is in line with the district’s curricula focus on “students as producers” and civics, while demonstrating how the high school’s fashion coursework prepares students for a variety of career paths post-graduation.
Analisa Giannone, the family and consumer sciences teacher, expressed her excitement for the project. “This effort started as a way to connect our Baldwin High School students to our younger children within the community. The high school students have said it has been an extremely rewarding experience, and I completely agree!”
The high school students began this project by choosing a monster pattern. They then utilized skills learned in class involving the sewing machines and hand-stitching to create seams and incorporated poly-fil stuffing. They infused their unique creativity into the project, as well. More than 30 stuffed monsters were crafted by the students, who range from grade 9 through 12.
Ms. Giannone initiated this endeavor last year during her first year as a teacher at Baldwin High School, coordinating the donation of stuffed dolls to the Baldwin Public Library. These dolls were then made available in the children’s section and gifted along with a checked-out book. Due to its success, the Baldwin High School teacher decided to bring back the project with her “Fashion I” class this school year, but for a different cause.
The stuffed monsters will be donated to the children at the Bethany House right in time for Halloween, and the non-profit, as well as the families there, were deeply touched by the kind act and will treasure the hand-made dolls beyond the spooky holiday.
This project was also covered by News 12 Long Island.
See related news coverage:
Baldwin students create, donate stuffed animals to Bethany House
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