Penn College News

Penn College Early Educators’ Outreach Benefits Children

Thursday, November 19, 2015

The Early Educators student organization at Pennsylvania College of Technology recently completed three service projects benefiting children.



Early childhood students Khloe L. Musser (left), of Lemont, and Megan E. McCaslin, of Williamsport, display 72 boxes of children’s items collected by the Early Educators club as part of the Jared Box Project, which aims to uplift the spirits of children in hospitals.Collection boxes for the Jared Box ProjectThe organization collected children’s items throughout campus for the Jared Box Project. The goal of the project is to lift the spirits of children in hospitals by giving them a small plastic storage box filled with games and activities.

The Jared Box Project was started in 2001 by children at Our Lady of Victory School in State College to honor a young classmate who lost his battle with cancer.

The Early Educators delivered 72 boxes to Geisinger Health System's Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville.

The students also delivered an array of children's items to Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg for use in the hospital’s emergency room.

At Geisinger Health System’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville, Jodi L. Binkley (far left), Early Educators’ adviser, joins McCaslin and Musser in a delivery to hospital volunteer Bob Thomas.The Early Educators begin their cleanup work at Memorial Park.For their third outreach effort, the Early Educators picked up trash at Memorial Park in Williamsport to make the playground a safer environment for children.

Members of Early Educators are usually enrolled in Penn College’s early childhood education major. The organization seeks to develop members’ leadership and advocacy skills on behalf of the needs and rights of young children.

“I am so proud of the commitment and passion our students have for young children,” said Jodi L. Binkley, Early Educators’ adviser and early childhood lab assistant. “They have gone above and beyond finding ways to make a difference in the lives of children and their families. This is a passion that will stay with them forever, and I am so honored to have been a part of their commitment.”

Members of the Early Educators pause for a photo in Memorial Park.To learn more about the early childhood education major at Penn College, call 570-327-4521.

To schedule a tour or learn more about the college, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

Photos provided by Jodi L. Binkley