As part of the Middle School monthly service program, a group of 6th through –8th grade students went to Travelers Aid Philadelphia (TAP) to deliver the dolls they had been diligently making with teachers Swannee Park’s and Ruth Joray’s expert guidance. They have been working on the doll project since the MLK Jr. Day of Service, and delivering them was the culmination of all their effort.

TAP, a non-profit social service agency, offers professional counseling and case management services to homeless families and individuals. It also provides support for stranded travelers and newcomers to the area, and is partnered with the City of Philadelphia and with the Office of Emergency Shelter and Services. The nineteen students were given a tour of the facility and had many impressions. Kate Gottlieb, a 6th grader said, “We saw pictures of the children that live in the shelter. I realized many things that I take for granted. One of the things that stood out for me was that I have supplies to go to school and uniforms and books. I learned that the shelter had to supply these things for the children. I wanted to help. I want to collect supplies for the children in the homeless shelter.”