A Change of Guard

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Saturday 25 February 2012

Art helping others



Top: Chloe DeGraffenreid shows her mom Mandy a painting she made to be auctioned off. The money raised will be used to purchase sheep for a village in Cambodia.
Aimee Dilger photos/The Times Leader
Bottom: Stephen Miller, 4, points with his toes to one of his pieces that is up for auction, as his mom Lisa looks at the art.

25th Saturday, 2012
The Times Leader

Building Blocks children sell creations to purchase sheep for village in Cambodia.

GERI GIBBONS Times Leader Correspondent

PLAINS TWP. – An auction of children’s art will help the people in a Cambodian village enjoy a better life.

Proceeds from the PreKingergarten Art Auction held at Building Blocks Learning Center in Plaza 315 will be used to purchase a flock of sheep through the Heifer International program for a village in Cambodia to support a Women’s Empowerment and Holistic Community Development program.

The children have learned that a flock of sheep can be used by villagers to make wool clothing, provide dairy products and enhance their living conditions in other ways. Wool is a very valuable commodity in that area of the world and can markedly improve the quality of life of families and an entire community. The center reinforces how the children can “make a difference in the world,” through community service.

“The people in Cambodia don’t have much good stuff or food, so we are collecting donations to help them,” said a smiling Elijah Scaramastro, who attends the center’s preschool program.

Chloe DeGraffenreid, also a preschooler, said she thinks the program was a “big success.”

Mandy DeGraffenreid, Chloe’s mother, said she was thrilled to see so many people participating in the event.

Youngsters, their parents and visitors from the community filled the center on Thursday afternoon. Art work created by the children filled the walls and the young artists happily showed visitors their work.

In conjunction with the center’s Willow Tree Curriculum, children in the pre-kindergarten classes engage in learning activities that promote global awareness and sustainability of life. The children learn about people throughout the world who are less fortunate than themselves and who struggle to obtain basic life needs. The program also introduces cultural awareness, in addition to math and reading skills.

The art show was held in conjunction with a ceremony marking an expansion of the school that will provide space and programs to serve an additional 100 families. Zubeen Saeed, owner and CEO of the center, said five additional classrooms are now available.

Building Blocks has several locations, serving children from six weeks to 13 years of age.

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