By Bianca Jeannot, ADAPT Community Network
On December 20th, ADAPT’s 154th Street Harlem Day Program once again created art as a way to spread holiday cheer. The individuals and staff were challenged to create snowmen and holiday décor out of boxes and recycled materials in the Art Room. The rules of the competition consisted of recycling current materials within the Day Program – purchased items from outside the program were not allowed. Everyday materials from newspaper to shredded paper, pampers and styrofoam cups were used to make a variety of snowmen and fallen snow.
Once the whole team took notice of what was taking place in the Art Room, a friendly competition was sparked among all recreation rooms and additional snow people were created. The contest however, was not the only holiday activity.
Earlier in the month two teachers Ms. Smith and Mr. David from Mary Walton Children’s Center reached out to 154th Street’s Director Nigel Nero about having their Pre-K students come and carol for the individuals. The teaching staff worked with the Harlem ADAPT team to make it happen, in addition to ADAPT giving back to the children. The kids wore red with matching Santa hats, and brought their own snowflake props to sing “Little Snowflake” from Super Simple Learning. After the children and individuals gathered, they shared singing and dancing with a surprise finish. In finding another use for the self-made snowmen, the Harlem program decided to make them piñatas for the kids to tear open and receive educational books as prizes. With all the excitement, the individuals and staff joined in with a friendly snowball fight to end the day. “Harlem” ADAPT will continue to build on the relationship with the school and will send volunteers from the program to read books to the children. Mary Walton Children’s Center plans to come back for Black History Month in order to further our community relationship.
