Abington campus community donates 700+ coats to needy kids

Education majors spearhead effort
Abington education majors

Penn State Abington Elementary & Early Childhood Education majors distributed winter coats, hats, gloves, and boots at its partnership school, McClure Elementary in Philadelphia.

Credit: Regina Broscius
Abington McClure coat drive
Credit: Regina Broscius

ABINGTON,Pa. — Penn State Abington elementary and early childhood education majors (EECE) led a campuswide drive that ultimately distributed more than 700 winter coats to children and families in need at a partnership school in the city.

The students loaded up cars with coats, gloves, hats and boots, and headed for McClure Elementary School, located in North Philadelphia. Fifteen EECE students drove to the school, sorted the coats and other items, and then helped the children “shop” for what they needed. In addition, five families from Puerto Rico, who were displaced from their homes by the hurricane, were invited to choose much-needed winter clothing. 

Abington McClure Coat Drive
Credit: Regina Broscius

At Abington, students in the EECE major work closely with four partnership schools, all located in struggling socioeconomic areas. It's a mutually beneficial relationship.

Several times a year, they collaborate:

  • The Abington students donate time and talent, spending time at the elementary schools observing and teaching mini-lessons.
  • The children come to Abington to learn from college professors about science, sociology for kids, and writing from popular children’s authors such as Janet Wong. And in return, Abington students teach mini-lessons. Equally important, the children are exposed to a college campus — likely a first for many. Now they can begin to visualize their dreams of a college education.
  • Abington faculty host professional development with experts in literacy, diversity and other specialties for the education majors and invite teachers from the partnership schools to the trainings, too.
  • EECE faculty established community partnerships with elementary schools located in the Philadelphia, Norristown, Bensalem and Abington school districts that reflect the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the region. Combining theory and practice, junior-level EECE majors apply culturally responsive pedagogy in these practicum experiences. Culturally responsive pedagogy is a style of teaching in which the students’ cultural strengths are identified and nurtured to advance academic achievement.
McClure Abington coat drive
Credit: Regina Broscius

EECE faculty established community partnerships with four elementary schools located in the Philadelphia, Norristown and Bensalem school districts that reflect the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the region. Combining theory and practice, junior-level EECE majors apply culturally responsive pedagogy in these practicum experiences.

Culturally responsive pedagogy is a style of teaching in which the students’ cultural strengths are identified and nurtured to advance academic achievement.

About Penn State Abington

Penn State Abington offers baccalaureate degrees in 19 majors at its suburban location just north of Philadelphia. Nearly half of its 4,000 students complete all four years at Abington, with opportunities in undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics and more. Students can start the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors at Abington and complete their degrees at University Park or another campus. Lions Gate, Abington's first residence hall, opened in August 2017.