The school system sent in these photos and this write up about some volunteer efforts to bring toys to children this holiday season.
Syreeta Nicholson chose toys for her three children, with help from her pastor, Rev.
Anthony Fulton, and Keith Young, male involvement coordinator for Head Start.
The parent resource room at the Primary Learning Center was transformed into a virtual toy store this week, thanks to the work of Keith Young and the Head Start program and some very generous community leaders.
Several years ago Young, the male involvement coordinator for Head Start, was riding a city bus and had a chance conversation with a stranger about trying to locate a source for toys for needy Head Start children. The stranger happened to work for a large philanthropic organization. He brought back Keith’s request and in short order a tremendous number of toys were being collected and scheduled for delivery to Keith’s office at the Primary Learning Academy.
The same donor, along with the New Haven Emerald Police Society, once again sent hundreds of toys, enough to benefit five needy families in every Head Start classroom across the City.
Keith and his team of social service staff and teachers sorted and tagged and are helping social service representatives pick up and deliver all the toys.
Among them is a Head Start family coping with loss this year, a young mother of three whose fianc√© was robbed and murdered in New Haven about a year ago. Young and Head Start provided food for the family during Thanksgiving, and invited her back this week to pick out toys. Her pastor, Anthony Fulton of Refiner’s Fire Church in New Haven, accompanied her to Head Start. He was impressed with the collection efforts and said his church will consider partnering with Head Start on future initiatives.