Friendship Boxes

Even our littlest ones seem to be able to imagine walking in another child's shoes. When asked to make a friendship box for children who come to an emergency shelter in New Braufels called Connections, these pre-kindergarteners thought of everything. Teachers Cecelia Locke and Rose Gibson suggested decorating a box and filling it with stuffed animals, books and school supplies; the children brought all that and more. Stickers, play dough, playing cards, toys, slinkies, toiletries and personal notes and drawings will offer a bright warm touch of welcome to what is likely and uncertain and troubling transition for many children. Mrs. Locke marvels, "it has been amazing to see what can fit in a shoe box. This has become a family activity and when the children bring in the boxes we talk about them at Religion time. The children are enjoying gathering the items and making each box special."