Days of Caring in Norwalk
Music, hugs and kisses, and fill the bus

In response to Governor Malloy’s call to remember the families of Sandy Hook School in Newtown, members of the Center for Youth Leadership designed two days of caring.

The halls of Brien McMahon High in Norwalk were chock full of activities on December 12. Our very popular Hugs and Kisses Project, complete with a huge stuffed animal and Hershey Kisses, returned for the day. We placed happy, supportive notes on the lockers of 1,500 students. Members delivered flowers to scores of teachers and staff. We carried students’ backpacks to class and handed out 250 packets of donuts and homemade cookies. But three activities made for a memorable day. We had a string quartet play several times in the hallways during passing time. We created a hopscotch court in the main hallway, with an untold number of students and adults recreating a bit of childhood by skipping down the hallway. And we had a 30-member chorus sing three times in the hallways (photo right).

Our second day of outreach to others was in a driving snow storm on December 14. We re-christened our annual Fill the Bus food drive as a day of community caring. Scores of Center for Youth Leadership members collected food from shoppers at Stop & Shop on Connecticut Avenue. Seven hours in the snow and cold allowed us to fill a Coach bus with rice, beans, and cans of soup. The food will be delivered to day laborers and the Norwalk shelter on December 18.