Students and faculty of Thomas Carroll Elementary School came together to make 25 rag wreaths for Christmas. Their creations were gifted to Sunrise Nursing Home on Friday.
The effort was the inaugural monthly act of service of the Carroll Community Club. Third-grade teacher Heather Pollack was a driving force behind the club’s formation, as she founded it with the goal of fortifying the relationship between students and teachers while also making a positive impact on the community.
“Education goes beyond the classroom. I think it’s important to have students understand the impact of their actions and that they can make a difference at a young age,” Pollack said. “And as educators, not only are we responsible for teaching them curriculum, but we’re also responsible for helping them foster a sense of philosophical philanthropy.”
The club was able to purchase the materials needed thanks to a sponsorship from Luso-American Credit Union. Pollack expressed pride in the fact that contributions were not just made by students and teachers.
“The janitors and cafeteria ladies also made a wreath,” Pollack said. “So it was the whole community, which I thought was cool, not just the teachers.”
The inspiration to engage with a nursing home came when Pollack’s grandfather was isolated in a rehabilitation facility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the pandemic, I just realized how isolated people were,” Pollack said. “Especially in nursing homes.”
However, the idea for creating rag wreaths dates back to when Pollack was in third grade herself.
“We did a project making rag wreaths,” Pollack explained. “I loved it and wanted to start a business.”
While that dream never fully came to fruition, she is now using her platform as a teacher to execute the idea in a more charitable manner.
The Carroll Community Club is composed of six Thomas Carroll teachers. Students will be returning to Sunrise in January for a game night with the seniors as part of the club’s next endeavor.
