During a presentation June 14 at the school, the 20 students presented their donation to Richard and Mary Silverman of Southbury, whose son, Matthew, is in the class.

Dr. Silverman, a local pulmonologist, is president and founder of the Home-to-Home Foundation. I couldn't believe how caring these students were of others," Dr. Silverman said. "I asked the students how they would like this donation to help and the responses blew me away - one student told me that now maybe the residents could go home; another shared that she hoped the residents could go to Hawaii."

In addition to raising the funds, each student wrote a letter to a resident in long-term care which will be delivered by the Home-to-Home Foundation.

"This is the beginning of a relationship," said Dr. Silverman. "We hope that the residents will write the students back. They can initially become pen-pals and then develop a one-on-one relationship with the student visiting the nursing facilities.

"The residents need human contact," he said. "They love visiting with a younger generation, and they have a wonderful history to share."

Mrs. Fein, also of Southbury, has offered to continue this fund-raising effort even with her class moving on to third grade. She intends to introduce the Home-to-Home Foundation with her new class in the fall.

The Home-to-Home Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a better quality of life to nursing home residents.

Programs are designed to engage volunteers who visit nursing homes on a regular basis to provide additional human contact.
Through organized and personal activities, the foundation finds special events that will appeal to every resident, and with time, positively influence residents' life skills through renewed spirit.

Funds raised by the Southbury students will be used directly in a Greater Waterbury nursing home.

Those seeking additional information about the Home-to-Home Foundation may call Executive Director Tracey Sperry, 203-757-5449, ext. 29.