Student Volunteers Give Back to the Community

(Submitted by Jennifer Taylor)

Project Eagle is a new Sandy Hook School community service effort designed for third and fourth graders who want to make a difference in the community. Family and friends also are invited to participate.

At the start of the program, all student volunteers signed a pledge to complete a series of service projects through the course of the school year. Students may participate in activities organized by Project Eagle parent volunteers or initiate projects of their own.  

Since the program’s launch in November, Project Eagle has initiated six projects to aid local organizations. Congratulations to all of the student volunteers – and their parents – who gave of their time to help others. 

Student volunteers worked with artists at All About Art in Monroe to create four works of art that will brighten the halls of Danbury Hospital.

Led by Rashi Kumar, the Project Eagle team was comprised of Jamie Davis, Emmi DeSousa, Alison Fernand, Matthew Fernand, JJ Haddick, Michael Haddick, Hannah Jojo, Caroline Malin, Kenny Malin, Kyle Malin, Karl Miller, Brian Pendergast, Amyla Posey, Kaia Posey, Pierce Posey, Regan Posey, Saahil Ray, Shilin Ray, Andrew Sposato, Luke Sposato, Josh Taylor, Nate Taylor, Henry Terifay, Kelly Terifay, Ben Wheeler, Nate Wheeler, and Garrett Wolf.

Student volunteers also teamed with the the Pole Bridge Trail Development team to help clear the path for a new trail at the Pole Bridge Preserve. Led by Rashi Kumar, the Project Eagle team was Crissy Berke, Ella Berke, Alison Fernand, Matthew Fernand, Daniel Jaeger, Karl Miller, and Shilin Ray.

A third project was to fill shoe boxes with small items, such as toys, books, home/school supplies, for Operation Christmas Child to help brighten a child’s holiday. Led by JoAnn Bacon, the Project Eagle team was Charlotte Bacon, Guy Bacon, Kieran Coffey, Rowan Coffey, Mathew DeMott, Sean DeMott, Saahil Ray, Shilin Ray, and Garrett Wolf.

Student volunteers also collected and sorted through donations of Legos that will be used to fill a play room at the new Family & Children's Aid counseling center in Danbury. Led by Kathy Coffey, the Project Eagle team was Kieran Coffey, Sean DeMott, Aidan Finnegan, Catie Gregory, Hannah Jojo, Philip Makris, Luke Sposato, Josh Taylor, and Tanner Trede.

Student volunteers with musical talents gave a performance to seniors at Masonicare as a way of thanking them for opening their doors to the community during the recent storms. Led by Francine Wheeler, the Project Eagle team was Remi Pimentel, Saahil Ray, Shilin Ray, Ben Wheeler, Nate Wheeler, and Garrett Wolf.

Finally, student volunteers used a simple pattern to create fleece scarves that will be donated to the Women's Shelter in Danbury in time for the holidays. Led by Chris Wolf, the Project Eagle team was Crissy Berke, Ella Berke, Sean DeMott, Madison Fetchick, Garrett Fetchick, Daniel Jaeger, Hannah Jojo, Karl Miller, Brian Pendergast, Saahil Ray, Shilin Ray, Nate Wheeler, and Garrett Wolf. 

For more information or to suggest a community service project for Project Eagle, please contact shsprojecteagle@gmail.com .