Angel Tree gifts benefit Infant and Toddler Connection of the Heartland families

Longwood University’s chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) sponsored an Angel Tree to collect Holiday gifts for children served by the Infant and Toddler Connection (ITC) of the Heartland.

Jack Threet is all smiles as he receives an Angel Tree gift.

ITC of the Heartland provides supports and services to families with children up to age three who have a developmental delay or a high possibility of being having a developmental delay. The goal of early intervention is to provide assistance to families to support their children’s learning and development through everyday activities.

“I am very grateful to the members of NSSLHA, the Longwood and Farmville community members, and ITC staff for ensuring that each child in our program has a gift bag of developmentally appropriate items for the holiday season,” said Theresa Anders, Local System Manager of ITC of the Heartland.

Melissa Goetz, a communication sciences and disorders major and a member of the NSSLHA, assisted in organizing the project. “The Angel Tree Project brings hope and happiness to families in need during the holiday season, and NSSLHA is so happy to have a role in that,” said Goetz.

Longwood students, alumni, faculty, staff and community partners donated the Angel Tree gifts. They are personally delivered to more than 85 homes in the seven county area surrounding Longwood University by ITC of the Heartland staff and providers.

“As a service coordinator working directly with children with delays and disabilities, many of them do not have access to age appropriate toys that will help them in their development. The annual Angel Tree gift project from ITC of the Heartland & Longwood University provides families with toys that are tailored to the child’s individual need(s). These toys foster learning, help parents assist their children in meeting their developmental milestones, and help the children accomplish the goals that are written on their Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP),” said Kavonda Jordan-Dean, ITC of the Heartland Service Coordinator.

Dr. Peggy Agee, faculty sponsor for the student organization, said “As one of the faculty advisors for NSSLHA, I have appreciated the opportunity for students in NSSLHA to participate in the planning and development of the Angel Tree project.  I have observed the development of collaboration and organizational skills and the students’ pride in completing this service project.  It’s a topic that they talk about long after the tree comes down and the gifts are distributed.”

“It’s always a blessing to be able to give to the little ones in our program and their siblings. The smiles and expressions on their faces reminds us as Early Interventionists why we do what we do during this special time of year,” states Sonya Edmonds, Senior Service Coordinator at ITC of the Heartland.

The Infant & Toddler Connection of the Heartland is located at Longwood University’s Speech, Hearing and Learning Services at 315 W. Third Street, Farmville. Early intervention services are provided in the homes and community settings in the counties of Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward. For more information about services offered by ITC, contact 434.395.2967 or visit http://www.longwood.edu/infanttoddlerconnection/index.html