Let’s Build a Playground Together
The Gymtime Foundation (a registered 501c3 non-profit) and Early Learning Foundations Preschool and have joined together to give in-patients at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit of New York Metropolitan Hospital a playground of its own! The 6,000 square feet located on the roof of the hospital provides the perfect space for an outdoor play area, something every child not only deserves, but needs. The hospital lacks necessary funding to provide a fun and safe outdoor environment for patients. As a result, these children end up spending anywhere from a few months to a year indoors.
Over the last several semesters, ELF students have participated in an ongoing art project that supports the Gymtime Foundation’s efforts to build the hospital a playground. To make it a concrete experience for the children, they explored a large sample of playground flooring that will ultimately be installed on the ground of the new play area. ELF teachers led a simple discussion, explaining that there are some children who don’t have playgrounds to use and that they need help to get one built. As a follow-up activity, children created and decorated 6″x6″ paper squares which will be added to the large symbolic model of the new playground to be displayed in the hospital’s lobby once we reach our goal!
With a goal of $65,000, the Gymtime Foundation is encouraging the community to get involved, one square at a time. For a $6 donation, children (and adults) can be recognized by having their decorated square added to the display that is currently on exhibit in Gymtime’s lobby.
Visit the Gymtime Foundation page on the Gymtime website for more information.