Danbury Student and Business Connection Grant Helps Fund Kindness Kitchen at Broadview Middle School

Danbury Student and Business Connection (DSABC) is proud to see 2021 grant funding being applied in classrooms this fall. The DSABC grant program awards Danbury Public School staff funding to support innovative projects that benefit Danbury Public School students. DSABC is able to provide grants thanks to generous donations from local businesses.

Broadview Middle School teachers Christine Miller and Allison Donofrio applied to DSABC for their project, the Kindness Kitchen. The Kindness Kitchen provides life and social skills training to students with special needs, and to the STEPS class (Students Training in Academic and Pre-Vocational Skills) on a daily basis. Throughout the learning experience, students give back to their school by supporting the Friday Food Program, the Broadview Boutique, and inclusive leadership programs. Students are also involved in the community by supporting service projects with the animal shelter and food pantries.

The Kitchen had been used in the middle school for over 20 years, but the appliances were no longer functional. The teachers still kept the program going and raised funds to stock the food pantry and the Broadview Boutique (gently used clothing donations) for students and families in need.

The DSABC grant committee decided it was time to get the Kindness Kitchen fully functioning! $3,770 was awarded to fund the purchase of a stackable washer/dryer, a new oven, and a butcher block countertop for the island.

“This gift from DSABC of a fully functioning kitchen and laundry space is a game changer for our program! Our students are now able to gain invaluable life and vocational skills while helping our school and community,” said Christine Miller. “We have already begun washing all the white board rags for the teachers in the building. We have big plans for so much hands-on learning and are so, so grateful.”

DSABC awarded a total of $10,000 in 2021. In addition to the Kindness Kitchen, grants were also awarded to Justin Morgan to purchase a 3-D printer for manufacturing students at DHS, to Lorena Tesbir to revitalize the campus garden at King Street Primary School, and to David Levine in support of a new project at DHS called the Progressive Alliance, which hopes to create a more welcoming, inclusive, and forward-thinking community both on campus and in the local area at Danbury High School.

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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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