NORWICH – Throughout November, Kelly Law, an elementary school teacher at Holy Family, is teaching her classes the importance of helping others and collecting dimes from her students in a program she calls Dimes for Diabetes.
Law is currently encouraging her kindergarten, first and third grade students to bring in dimes throughout the month to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. The project began in honor of six-year-old Haily Beckwith, a type-one diabetic student in Law’s class. The goal, said Law, is for the children in each class to fill a peanut butter jar with dimes by Nov. 30.
“The students are reacting very positively, especially the older kids,” said Law. She went on to say that though “the kindergartners don’t really understand it,” they are still excited to participate and more excited knowing that the dimes they give will somehow benefit one of their own classmates.
Law explained that Beckwith can be pricked as many as three times throughout the day to test her blood sugar levels. Beckwith’s condition helps her classmates gain a better understanding of what diabetes entails, said Law.
“There was supposed to be a walkathon to raise money, but it was canceled due to flooding this year,” explained Law. This led her to think of alternative ways in which the class could raise money for the cause.
Law said she had no intent of using the class project to promote National Diabetes Month – which takes place in November – but said the coincidence may serve the project with more of a purpose for all of her students.
“I think they should be recognized for what they are doing,” said Heather Beckwith, mother of Haily. Beckwith said her daughter is excited about what her peers are doing.
“The most important thing I want the kids to gain,” said Beckwith, “is awareness ... It’s great that the kids are taking the time to do this. It’s something that lots of children have.”