Caring and Sharing at UW Experimental Education Unit

Every holiday season the UW College of Education Experimental Education Unit (EEU) raises funds to support students who are enrolled in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP).  ECEAP serves children who are 4 years old and will be going into kindergarten the following year. (The best way to think about ECEAP is that it is the Washington state version of Headstart, funded by the state and the city of Seattle.) Children who are served by the program are from low-income families and include children who are developing normally as well as those with developmental delays or disabilities. The two ECEAP classrooms are inclusion classrooms as is the rest of the EEU.

ECEAP is a "whole-child," comprehensive, family-focused preschool program that includes three major components: education, health and nutrition and family support/involvement. The program is free and is for families who live or work in Seattle, for children who are age 4 by August 31 and for families who are income eligible. Highly qualified teachers as well as speech therapists, occupational therapists and a social worker work with the 36 ECEAP children at the EEU.

Forty families, 36 of whom were in the ECEAP program, had a "wish list" for this holiday season, lists of basic items for needy parents and children. Staples, like shampoo and soap, along with grocery store gift cards, toiletries and clothing were the most requested items. However, families also asked for games, toys and children's clothing. Many of these families could not afford fundamental household items and would not have been able to give their children holiday toys without this wish list!

The community truly banded together to fill these needs. Contributions poured in from the EEU community, like the Parent Council, as well as College of Education faculty and staff. The Don James Foundation, the UW Book Store, both current and past EEU families and staff and many friends pitched in to make these wishes come true.

Through the generosity of these donors, more than 40 families received holiday sponsorship—a record in giving!

Learn more about the Experimental Education Unit.