A Season of Gratitude and Generosity

This holiday season, the EA community lived the Stripes of Gratitude and Generosity through service, partnership, and care for others.

EA's annual All-School Can Drive wrapped up after Thanksgiving, with thousands of food and household items collected school-wide. Donations supported several community partners across the Philadelphia region, including ACLAMO, the Chester County Food Bank, Memorial COGIC, St. Barnabas Resource Center, and The Welcome Table at St. James School.

"During a season in which many of our community partners have experienced a dire need for healthy foods and various household goods to simply meet their day-to-day needs, the EA community committed itself to a staggering level of participation and support of them," said Middle School Chaplain Michael Palmisano. "As our community partners visited us in Chapel throughout the month of November, we were witness to their stories of transformation and how God often works miracles through the 'ordinary'—even something as ordinary as a can of beans."

"The Can Drive is a practical and hands-on way for our youngest students to live out the call shared at the end of every one of our Chapels, 'Now that our Chapel service is over, let our service to one another begin,'" said Lower School Stripes Teacher Cathie Hicks. "Our students take the time to learn about each of our community partners, establishing a connection that leads to a deeper understanding of the needs of others."

Highlights of this year's Can Drive included homerooms and advisories working together to fill the boxes overflowing outside of their rooms, as well as students helping to box collected items and pack vans for delivery. "There were many hands involved at every step of the way," Ms. Hicks said. 

Head Chaplain Tim Gavin, Hon. said service opportunities like these make him especially grateful to be a part of the EA community. "The annual Can Drive provides us with an opportunity to learn more about our [community] partners, including their needs and assets," he said. "Our students benefit from this shared act of generosity because they arrive at a spiritual place in their lives when they learn to serve and serve to learn."

Another central part of this year's outreach was EA's continued partnership with ACLAMO, a Norristown-based organization that provides educational and social services to the Latino community. Through the ACLAMO "Angels" program, EA students, families, and faculty graciously fulfilled holiday wish lists for more than 200 children.

"This [program] is made possible because of the incredible (truly unbelievable!) generosity of this community," said Community Service Coordinator Amy Brotschul. "The care taken to choose and purchase gifts for our friends at ACLAMO is truly special."

Gifts were coordinated across all divisions and delivered directly to families served by ACLAMO, allowing them to be shared according to each family's traditions and needs. Mme. Brotschul said that seeing the gifts delivered in mid-December was a sight to behold. "I arrived at ACLAMO not long after the POD was delivered and got to see the bags distributed to happy moms and dads. The joy on their faces made all the time and energy spent on this project so worth it, especially since I know those smiles will be twofold on Christmas morning."

"I am grateful to the many 'heroes' who helped shop for gifts, put bags together, organize extra toys, and so much more," she continued. "No one can take on a project this big alone, and I'm just happy to help orchestrate this strong tradition for the families at ACLAMO. Thank you to this kind and caring community!"

Beyond the holiday season, Upper School students partner with ACLAMO year-round through weekly after-school tutoring.