Casa de Amparo

Students Give Gifts to Casa de Amparo

Feb 29, 2000

One afternoon last spring, sixthgraders from Mission Estancia Elementary in south Carlsbad delivered gifts to Casa de Amparo for children they will never meet. The students from Mike Evans' class raised $1,500 by staging a play, "Knights of the Rad Table."

Evans had helped his students select Casa as part of a community service project. The students had taken an earlier tour of the shelter, but they weren't supposed to come into contact with any of the children there. By chance, they saw a baby girl being comforted by a staff member. It made an impact on some of the visiting children. "She was crying for her mom and we were told she would probably never see her mom again, because she was being given up for adoption." Many of the students said it made them appreciate having a loving family.

The group not only raised money from play ticket sales and donations, they got nearby Encinitas merchants to donate or discount needed items from the Casa wish list. The students donated $2,000 worth of merchandise and coupons.

The students agreed projects like this should become part of their school curriculum. One classmate said "I'll definitely remember this for the rest of my life."

Jody Hammond, North County Times