Holy Family kids send relief for Australian koalas

NEW BEDFORD — In the wake of the wildfires that have been tearing through Australia and threatening its unique wildlife, a first grade class at Holy Family Holy Name decided to do something about what they saw in the news.

First grade teacher Stacy Gillard who’s in her first year at the West End Catholic school said some of her 15 students had concerns about the fires, which ultimately turned into a project of making mittens and joey pouches for injured wildlife.

“They didn’t really understand how the fires started,” Gillard said in a phone interview. That led to an age-appropriate lesson on how climate change has contributed to the wildfires, how habitats are being destroyed and the rescue efforts, she said.

The fires which have been burning since September have killed at least 26 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes, according to a Jan. 11 Associated Press story. They’ve also taken a toll on animals.

On Friday, using upcycled sheets and pillow cases donated by students and their families, the students assembled mittens for burnt koala paws and joey pouches for baby kangaroos. A teacher’s aid brought in a sewing machine to complete the student projects.

Originally Published by SouthCoast Today on January 14, 2020.

Author: Aimee Chiavaroli