Blankets of HOPE at Poughkeepsie Middle School

POUGHKEEPSIE – Poughkeepsie Middle School students learned about empathy and took action to help warm the lives of some people currently experiencing homeless in the area through a national nonprofit program, Blankets of Hope.

The Brooklyn, NY, organization provides schools with free blankets that students can provide to local people experiencing homeless along with a handwritten note.

PMS teacher Michelle Devlin has done a kindness event at the school before, but this year is different.

“Intentional kindness is more important than ever,” she said, as students are having to readjust to being back in school using a traditional model of instructional delivery. “It’s been a challenge for students to re-acclimate and socialize. They’re having a hard time thinking of others.”

So, when she discovered Blankets of Hope she jumped at the opportunity. The organization not only provides the blankets, but provides a virtual workshop that walks students through an exercise designed to help them ‘feel’ how a person experiencing homeless might feel and teaches them about empathy. Once they complete the workshop, students are given templates and ideas and are encouraged to write their own note to the person who will receive their blanket.

In the video, co-founders Mike and Nick Fiorito had students close their eyes and imagine they were sitting on a cold sidewalk in the middle of New York City with their only belongings being a backpack and sleeping bag. Nick Fiorito asked them to imagine having no family, no friends. “You’re completely alone.” Then, he told them that their backpack was broken into while they slept, and the money they were saving to buy a bike so they could earn money by becoming a delivery person, was stolen along with all their belongings.

The story was based on a real person he and his brother met on the streets of New York City

“I felt sad and mad. How could people do that to a homeless person,” sixth grader Maykel Wright said.

Classmate Davion Millington said he “felt uncomfortable and a little sad so I know how it feels,” during the exercise.

The two now understand empathy, as demonstrated by their letters.

Wright wrote, in part, “Caution! This blanket contains warm thoughts. I hope you know you are capable, brave and significant.”

Asked why he wrote that, he said, “They don’t have a lot of family and I want them to feel great and happy.”

Millington wrote, “I care about how you feel, I know you are cold and this blanket will keep you warm.”

Devlin worked with fellow sixth grade teacher Michelle Fonts and guidance counselor Ann Marie Tucker to do the program in all sixth grade classrooms and was joined by eighth grade teacher Jennifer Burke’s classes.

Hudson River Housing’s Elizabeth Celaya, the director of strategic initiatives, told Devlin the shelter would take all 360 blankets this year.

“We were excited to hear about this because blankets are one of the number one things we need as an organization,” Celaya said.

The organization provides shelter to many hundreds of people each day.

When Devlin spoke to students about bringing the blankets to Hudson River Housing, many asked if they could bring the blankets themselves, so Devlin is seeking to arrange for a bus to bring students and the blankets to Hudson River Housing where they’ll hand the blankets off and learn about the organization.

“It’s exciting that the middle school children may be able to visit and we can help bring some awareness to them of what people are doing to try and prevent and end homelessness in the community,” Celaya said.

This isn’t the first kindness activity Devlin has done in her tenure with the district. A couple years ago she brought students to the Walkway Over the Hudson, where they wrote inspirational messages in chalk all over the path.

“We’re not alone in this world. We really need human connection and positive thinking,” said Devlin, who has already requested more than 1,000 blankets next year so the entire school can participate.