You’ve helped deliver at-home activity kits of art and STEM materials. Over 600 kits were distributed through social welfare workers and shelters to the children and families most impacted by the pandemic. Kits have also gone to formerly incarcerated parents, and foster families.
Habitot-at-Home kits have been distributed to: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Early Intervention Services, East Bay Agency for Children, Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center, Oakland Elizabeth House, Bananas, Family Support Services of Alameda County, Centerforce, and Healthy Black Families.
In August, we organized a “Take Home a Piece of Habitot” sales and giveaway event to distribute art supplies, books, toys, curriculum materials, costumes — even some exhibit parts slated for retirement — all items we couldn’t use while closed.
Preschool teachers, child care providers and in-home day cares selected items first. Over the next two weeks, dozens of individual families, socially-distanced, were able to select both free and sale items for play and learning and kindergarten skill-building at home.
Remaining items were then donated to the First 5 Center for Contra Costa County in Richmond. The event helped families and generated thousands in needed funds for Habitot’s ongoing operation.
During the pandemic, we’ve created and delivered art and STEM activities online to thousands of families each week, so parents and children can enjoy a little slice of Habitot.
Weekly we release online instructions for how to use materials on-hand at home to engage children with art and STEM activities. Over 4,000 families have received these with original Habitot ideas every week since June 2020.
