Abby Gallo ‘22 | Maggie Lo ‘23
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Tierney
Over the years, the EA community has continued to engage in service during the holiday season with the ACLAMO Angels program. EA presents gifts to the underprivileged students at ACLAMO, whose parents may not have the means to do so. Despite the difficult and unprecedented circumstances regarding COVID-19, this charitable program will continue; however, it will look different than in previous years. Instead of individual classes or advisories “adopting” two students as EA has done in the past, individual families will now sign up for an ACLAMO student.
In the past, the Angels program has matched homerooms and advisories as well as some individual faculty and staff members with ACLAMO students. These groups or individuals then collect presents for their respective ACLAMO students. Rebecca Brinks, EA Community Service Coordinator, describes the process, saying, “We provide the ACLAMO student’s name, grade, size, and some suggestions about what they’re interested in, for example art supplies, legos, or Barbies. Then, once the gifts are all collected, the Community Service Corps sorts through them to make sure that each child receives approximately 8 to 10 gifts, with hopefully a selection of fun items, like toys, and functional items, like clothing.”
EA community members have appreciated the opportunity to give back to the wider community. Jennifer Tierney, Lower School third grade teacher, shares, “For the third graders, we loved adopting two children in the past. We just loved the feeling of children giving to children.” Allison Schultz, Middle School math teacher, comments, “The wonderful part of the Angel program is that it opens up the opportunity to support ACLAMO to the whole EA community, in Lower, Middle, and Upper School.” Mariana Ramirez, Associate Director of College Counselling, says, “Everyone deserves to feel special, and socioeconomic disparities are never more clear than during the holidays.”
The ACLAMO Angels program continues to unite the community, while teaching students about the importance of service and forcing them to realize how fortunate they are. Tierney notes, “We’re in a bit of a bubble here at Episcopal, so I think it’s great that we, especially the little kids, can get a chance to get outside of that bubble a little bit, realize how fortunate we are, and how with that comes a responsibility to help those who are not quite as fortunate as us. [… The third-graders] really open up their eyes to the fact that it’s not just a given for everybody to always get everything on their Christmas list just because they asked for it.”
The EA community is determined to continue the program this year, and although the process is different, the outcome will be the same: all students at ACLAMO will receive gifts this holiday season. This year, instead of classes or advisories, individual families are encouraged to “adopt” a student to buy gifts for. Brinks explains that the “angels” will “put together a holiday bag of 5 to 7 items, including a toy, book, and simple clothing items,” and then they will drop the bag off in the EA baseball lot. Brinks “was a little worried [about the process this year] because of the timeline and communication and because we didn’t have some of the teachers leading the effort, but I’ve really been surprised at the number of people who have wanted to participate so far: a lot of teachers and a lot of students and their families.”
Clare Collins ‘23, who has “adopted” two ACLAMO students, says, “I want to give these kids some happiness during the holidays because it’s possible that these are the only gifts that they’re going to receive this Christmas.” Emily Staid ‘22, another participant, shares, “I think the Aclamo’s Angels program is very important because it’s all about our community giving back to others in need from local areas, and helping out families to give kids really good experiences.” Brinks also comments, “Often, thinking about someone who is the same age, who likes legos just like you but doesn’t have everything that you have, makes for good discussions about generosity and dignity.”
Many members of the EA community wish that classes and advisories could have worked together again this year as ACLAMO “angels,” but they are also grateful that the program is still happening. Brinks says, “We will miss the opportunity that classes and advisories had to work together to provide presents for a particular student.” Tierney is also disappointed that “the students aren’t able to bring in items, […] but [she is] really happy that [the program is] still continuing one way or another.”
Members of the EA community are still able to become involved with the ACLAMO Angels program and be matched with a student by emailing Brinks. She shares, “I still have probably 30 or 40 kids still to match, so I’m hopeful that there will be more people who are interested.”
Staid says, “When you adopt a family and give presents to kids, you know you are putting a little extra smile on their face which is really heartwarming and gratifying.” Kathryn Lynn ‘22 also adds, “It’s really important to give kids who are less fortunate an equally happy and memorable Christmas experience. It’s especially important around the holidays because many people, unfortunately, don’t have the same holiday experience as we do, so it’s important that we do everything we can to make their holidays the best they can be.”