Seniors, 5th Graders Team Up To Help Foster Children

When fifth graders at Minnesauke School of East Setauket, Long Island, read the book Pictures of Hollis Woods, by Patricia Reilly Griff, they were touched by the plight of the story’s main character - a little girl who moved in and out of foster homes. To connect real life to the literary work, teacher Irene Berman developed a unique program that offers her students the opportunity to reach out to area foster-care children.
&#8220Operation: Good Night, Sleep Tight” was established to promote a sense of security for area foster children. Working in collaboration with Sterling Glen Senior Living, one of Long Island’s leading developers, owners and managers of senior housing options, the 10- and 11-year-old students and Sterling Glen senior residents secured donations and compiled customized pillowcases that will enable foster children to securely transport personal items whenever they are re-assigned to a new home.
&#8220Each year, 40 to 50 children enter the Suffolk County Department of Social Services foster-care program,” explained Berman. &#8220Often, they place their scant belongings in a garbage bag and drag them along. Frequently, these possessions are lost in the process. Through this multigenerational program, the students and Sterling Glen seniors have extended a comforting hand to those youngsters in need.”
Sterling Glen, whose employees and residents actively engage in a wide range of community outreach projects throughout Long Island, donated the pillowcases. Residents from Sterling Glen of Forest Hills and other locations secured additional donations included as part of the gift.
&#8220It warms our residents’ hearts to help others in the neighborhoods in which our communities are located, especially young children,” explained Susan Eaton, Sterling Glen director of training and development. &#8220Our involvement in Operation: Good Night, Sleep Tight” was very rewarding and is one example of Sterling Glen’s commitment to improving the lives of people living on Long Island.”