Costumes for a Cause

October 28, 2017
The Gardner News
Doneen Durling 

ASHBURNHAM There were superheroes, gargoyles, princesses, football players, witches, gypsies and cowboys at the annual Halloween Costume Parade Friday, where each student, teacher, and administrator donated a dollar and paraded their garb through the hallways and out the back door of the John R. Briggs Elementary School.

All proceeds were donated to an organization that helps families and children with special needs, and aids in developing programs to address the bullying problem in schools.

Teacher and organizer Kristi DiSalle said, “By making a donation, John R. Briggs is helping Pacer provide opportunities for children and youth with disabilities and also helping Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The contribution will help keep services free of charge to families.”

According to the website, The Pacer Center is a training and information center for families of children with all disabilities from birth to young adults, across the nation. Parents can find publications, workshops, and other resources to help make decisions about education, vocational training, employment, and other services for their children with disabilities. Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center provides resources designed to benefit all students, including those with disabilities.”

Pacer also provides information, support, workshops and referrals to both families and professionals, provides puppet programs on disability awareness, abuse prevention, and bullying prevention, and also provides programs for Native American, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Somali and Southeast Asian communities. Many of their publications have been translated into Hmong, Somali and Spanish.

Currently, there are more than 6.7 million children with special needs throughout the nation. Pacer does not charge workshop fees to parents of children with disabilities because those parents are already facing high costs as they strive the meet the needs of their son or daughter with a disability.

DiSalle said when asked why she chose Pacer, “When we first started doing the anti-bullying month, I did some research and found Pacer. They are the ones who started Unity Day, which we also do. We use the educational materials they provide, like Spookley the Square Pumpkin, etc., during October for anti-bullying month.”

After the costume parade, students had some time with the School Resource Officers who told them about the importance of Halloween Safety during Trick or Treating this coming Tuesday night 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Ashburnham and Westminster neighborhoods.