【Activity Report】"The Bloomingdale Family Program – Origami: A Bridge Between Hearts"

Hello everyone! This is NY de Volunteer.

On Tuesday, April 8, we visited The Bloomingdale Family Program, located in the Upper West Side, to enjoy an origami activity with children aged 3 to 4.

What is The Bloomingdale Family Program?

Since 1960, this nonprofit organization has been supporting children and families from low-income households in Northern Manhattan. It offers a full-day preschool program for children aged 2 to 4 completely free of charge. In addition, they provide individualized support services for children with special learning needs and ongoing assistance even after they move on to elementary school. The program also emphasizes strong partnerships with parents, encouraging their active involvement in their children's development and offering holistic, community-based support.

Joining the Cultural Diversity Celebration Week

When we learned about The Bloomingdale Family Program’s annual “Cultural Diversity Celebration Week,” which introduces children to different cultures, we wondered how NY de Volunteer could contribute. Inspired by the opportunity, we decided to participate in this meaningful event.

In preparation, we held several meetings with the staff to discuss how to make the activity as enjoyable and engaging as possible for the children. Together, we decided to introduce origami, a traditional Japanese art form that we have found to be universally fun for people of all ages.

We also prepared a simple Japanese quiz to spark interest in the culture. Upon request from the Bloomingdale staff to create a “festival atmosphere,” we incorporated Japanese clothing like yukata and happi coats—many of which had been previously donated to us. Their enthusiasm for giving the children a memorable day truly motivated us to do our best.

The Day of the Event: A Big Success

We began the day by gathering with the volunteers, who received a brief orientation about The Bloomingdale Family Program from the staff. At NY de Volunteer, we always provide background information about our partner organizations before each activity, encouraging our volunteers to engage not just as helpers, but as thoughtful contributors who understand the mission behind each program.

We first visited the classroom of the 4-year-olds, where the children greeted us energetically. Since it was April, we had prepared a sakura (cherry blossom) origami activity. Although it seemed a bit challenging at first, the children engaged with great enthusiasm. Each child created their own blossom and added it to a large paper tree, completing a beautiful sakura tree together.

Next, we visited the 3-year-old class, where we introduced the children to happi coats and yukata. Though they were initially shy and curious about the unfamiliar attire, they gradually opened up—saying things like “I want to try it!” or “I don’t want to take it off!” We captured many heartwarming photos. We also brought origami for this group, and the children showed incredible curiosity, requesting animals and airplanes one after another. Time flew by, and as we prepared to leave, some children looked a bit sad and asked, “Are you leaving already?” Others gave us high-fives and cheerful goodbyes like “Come back soon!”—leaving us with full hearts.

Reflections

This event allowed us not only to connect with the children, but also to learn from the compassionate and welcoming approach of the staff. From our very first visit to the completion of the program, the staff treated us with warmth and care, making us feel comfortable and supported throughout. We were inspired by the way they created a nurturing environment and embraced everyone with kindness—a reminder of the importance of being open and present in every interaction.

We don’t know the personal circumstances of each child, but they were lively, cheerful, and full of energy. Their resilience and potential deeply moved us. Though they may not remember this day forever, we hope it leaves a small, gentle memory—one that might surface someday as a warm, comforting thought like “That was fun,” or “They were so kind.”

Anyone Can Be a Changemaker

A changemaker isn’t someone with special skills—it’s anyone who can turn their attention to what’s in front of them, act with care, and respond to what they notice.

The time we spent with the children helped us reflect on our mission and values, and we gained so much from the experience. We hope to carry this learning forward into our next steps and inspire others along the way.

NY de Volunteer will continue to organize programs like this in the future.We look forward to having you join us!