Dear Editor:
The City of Gilroy Summer Playground Program would like to share
with you some wonderful examples of giving back to the community
that are taking place at each of our four sites this summer.
Dear Editor:
The City of Gilroy Summer Playground Program would like to share with you some wonderful examples of giving back to the community that are taking place at each of our four sites this summer.
Playground sites are currently at Las Animas Veterans Park, Luigi Aprea School Multi-Purpose Room, Rod Kelley School Room 13 and Wheeler Community Center Multi-Purpose room.
The program runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and has a one-time registration fee of $5 for the entire summer.
At the beginning of the summer, we asked the employees of the City of Gilroy to share a lunch time with us and read a book to our program participants. The response has been wonderful.
From several different city departments people responded with enthusiasm. Our program leaders have added other community members to thier reading time. Doctors, dads, military personnel and friends have given time to us. Some share stories that relate to thier profession, others bring books that are personal favorites. It is truly a gift. For those who read and those who listen the time spent is a treasure.
Another part of this program is our part in giving back. Playgrounds are giving back. Each site developed a “Giving Back to our Community Plan.”
The children and playground leaders discussed, planned and are carrying through with several different projects. Some are long term and will be completed by summer’s end, others are designed to be short term so that the children may experience the joy of giving and see the immediate result.
As so many people know, it is truly humbling to be the one in need or the one who recieves a gift. Joy and pride are found in giving. Many people do not have the opportunity to take part in the giving.
We know the children in our program will experience the full circle of the give and take that creates a strong community.
We are grateful to our guest readers. They have been gracious and kind. We are very proud of the children in our community who recognize the power of giving back and the value of a community.
Geralyn Fortino, Gilroy Program Coordinator on behalf of the Community Services program leaders and participants
Submitted Tuesday, July 20 to ed****@gi************.com
