It began with 鈥淥ne.鈥
鈥淥ne鈥 is a children鈥檚 book by Kathryn Otoshi that Charlie, a student at Kent State鈥檚 Child Development Center, read with his parents. His mother taught at the center. The book uses colors and numbers as characters and deals with issues of bullying, standing up for one鈥檚 self, the power of numbers and the power of 鈥渙ne.鈥
Charlie and Sarah Knapp, a Kent State alumna and kindergarten teacher at Kent State's Child Development Center
Inspired by this book, Charlie and his parents visited the Kent State鈥檚 CARES Center (Crisis Advocacy Resources Education Support) and took an ornament from the center鈥檚 鈥Giving Tree.鈥 Each ornament carries a tag that lists some of the most-desired items for the center鈥檚 pantry.
The center鈥檚 pantry is stocked with fresh and non-perishable food items and personal care items that go to Kent State students in crisis.
Charlie told his friends in his kindergarten class at the Child Development Center about the ornament and the Giving Tree, and they wanted to participate, too.
Children Arrived Towing a Wagon
Staffers at the Child Development Center organized a visit to the CARES Center with the children and a wagon-load of donations. Terri Cardy, an outdoor educator in Kent State鈥檚 Child Development Center, along with other staffers, led the group of children into the CARES Center.
Sydney Jordan, assistant director of the CARES Center, was happy to welcome the young visitors, show them around the food pantry and assist them in shelving their donations. She also gathered them around the center鈥檚 Giving Tree to tell them about the donation items listed on the ornaments and answer questions.
The children took two ornaments from the Giving Tree that they will bring with them on a trip to the CVS location in Kent in one week. There, they will purchase the listed items and bring them back to the CARES Center.
Other staff members from Kent State鈥檚 Child Development Center who accompanied the children on their visit were Sara Knapp, a Kent State alumna who teaches the kindergarten class there; Anna Thompson (鈥淢iss Anna鈥), a student in Kent State鈥檚 graduate early childhood education program; and Maia Bagnato, a senior in Kent State鈥檚 early childhood education program.
The class stocked the shelves with the donations they brought and learned about how these donations help Kent State students in need.
The Need is Great
Jordan said that the number of students in need visiting the center has increased from fall semester 2022 to fall semester 2023. She is grateful for the visit by the Child Development Center class and the recent story about the Giving Tree in Kent State Today.
鈥淎fter the story, we can鈥檛 keep ornaments on the tree,鈥 Jordan said. 鈥淲e have to keep making them.鈥
The Giving Tree will be on display through Dec. 15 and the center will be open to accept donations through Dec. 23. The CARES Center is located on the first floor of the Kent Student Center, Suite 106, near the elevators. Their offices are open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 330-672-7575 or email CAREScenter@kent.edu.