KINGSTON, R.I. — Dec. 12, 2024— Preschoolers from the University of Rhode Island (URI) Child Development Centers hosted their annual Art Exchange event at the Memorial Union on Dec. 12, raising money for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
The event featured handmade artwork created by children aged three to five. Under the guidance of Director Jessica MacLeod and her team of teachers and student interns, the young artists interacted with visitors, offering their creations in exchange for donations to the food bank.
The children spent weeks crafting colorful bookmarks, candle holders, postcards, keychains, and shoelaces. In return for donations of cash or non-perishable food items, visitors received these one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts.
The URI Child Development Centers are dedicated to providing high-quality, developmentally appropriate education for children ages three to five. Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the centers operate full-day preschool programs on both the Kingston campus and in downtown Providence. These programs not only offer exceptional early childhood education but also serve as a training ground for future educators and a model for best practices in early care and education.
Part of the URI Department of Human Development and Family Studies, the centers also support research in early childhood education and provide community outreach through professional organizations and conferences. As a “lab school,” the CDC offers resources to local educators, inviting them to observe and learn from their programs.
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