Ethan Packard stood in front of his middle school class Tuesday and spoke about gratitude, reminding the 34 other students and honored guests to remember the things they are grateful for this week. And then he welcomed everybody to feast on a Thanksgiving meal his class helped make.
The meal was Reid Middle School's self-contained special education class's 10th annual celebration. The students helped make applesauce, butter, and cranberry sauce to complement the meal cooked by school staff. They made name cards and decorations. And each student wrote a letter inviting an adult to the feast.
"We tried to have the kids write something unique," said teacher Kathleen Ebbert, explaining that the project helps teach English language arts skills as well as social skills.
She also said, "we also talked about gratitude and how we all have things to complain about, but we can try to 'flip our attitude and show some gratitude.'"
Joe Schnopp chose to invite Mayor Daniel Bianchi and was "surprised that he's here." The mayor was one of the 25 or so adults who joined in the celebration.
"I wanted to have honor and to be proud," Joe said of why he chose the mayor to invite. "I'm glad he's here."
Joe made butter out of buttermilk and he had a hand in the cranberry sauce even though he doesn't like the taste.
"I like it without the sweet. I have a sour tooth," he said.
He does like pumpkin and chocolate pies and even though he hasn't tried key lime or pecan, he says he'll likely enjoy those too.
In an exchange of letters between Packard and Superintendent Jason McCandless, pecan pie was a topic. McCandless arrived on Tuesday with a freshly baked pecan pie to contribute to the dessert table.
The students have various disabilities but came together to put on the afternoon meal, sitting next to and talking with the adults they invited. The adults talked with the students and helped them with homework.
"It's definitely a social skills bonanza," Ebbert said.
The annual meal was started 10 years ago as "an opportunity to share something with the kids," Ebbert said. The event has continued every year since.
"It's important for them to have something positive. This is a wonderful thing," Ebbert said. "I'm so proud of them."
After the meal, the students will be asked to write thank-you notes to the adults who attended, further teaching writing skills. Teacher Pam Garwood says she still gets students who have since graduated asking to come back for the feast.
"It's one thing the kids will always remember," Garwood said.
While the students put in the effort to host the event, they did get some help from the business community. Big Y, Market 32, Stop & Shop, Hannaford and Wohrle's Foods all made donations.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
ServiceNet Warming Center Hosted 126 People This Winter
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
ServiceNet manages the warming shelter next to the church.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ServiceNet's warming center has provided more than heat to unhoused individuals over the last four months and will run to the end of April.
It opened on Dec. 1 in the First United Methodist Church's dining area, next to ServiceNet's 40-bed shelter The Pearl. The agency has seen 126 individuals utilize the warming center and provided some case management to regulars.
While this winter was a success, they are already considering next winter.
"I've been on this committee many years now. There's probably only a few months out of the year that I don't talk about winter, so I'm always trying to plan for next winter," Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.
"We are in this winter and I'm already thinking what's going to happen next winter because I want to be really clear, winter shelter is never a given. We don't have this built into the state budget. It's not built into our budget, so there is always trying to figure out where we get money, and then where do we go with winter shelter."
She pointed out that warming centers are "very different" from shelters, which have a bed. The warming center is set up like a dining room, open from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and folks are welcome to stay for breakfast.
"We are asking people to come in, get warm, be out of the elements," Forbush explained.
ServiceNet's warming center has provided more than heat to unhoused individuals over the last four months and will run to the end of April.
click for more
John J. Harding II served his country with honor and distinction from 1991 to 2018 in Marine Corps and in the Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. click for more
Lafave, a lifelong town resident, has been with the library for 30 years and shares her expertise and passion for local history with the community. click for more
Multiple people driving by the structure at 206 Dalton called 911 report heavy flames coming from the front of the building, according to Deputy Fire Chief Neil Myers.
click for more