Children’s Stories for Charity

For their annual Children’s Day Charity Event this year, the students of Maple Bear Singapore used stories to raise funds for charity. Called Shoebox Stories, the project sees them filling shoeboxes with scenes from their favourite children’s stories; through the creative artwork and use of materials, these stories come to life at home.

Why stories in shoeboxes?

Children’s stories are one of the best ways to teach children the values that will guide them as they journey through life. We may forget what we’re taught in school but we’ll always remember the stories we hear!

The shoeboxes are meant to let Maple Bear students understand what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. As they work on their shoebox story to raise funds for charity and for those who need more help than them, they learn empathy for others.

Maple Bear’s Education Ambassador Mrs Patricia Koh explains: “The aim is that the stories we share with our children will take them on a magical journey to explore the world, and allow them to be excited about all the wonderful things they can do to change the lives of those who may have less than us.”

Children’s stories galore for charity event

This is the first time the school is creating Shoebox Stories, and the students managed to create more than 1,800 shoeboxes! This means that many of their favourite stories came to life to raise funds for charity; they included:

• The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• Dear Zoo, Oh Dear, It’s Mine by Rod Campbell
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willens
• Orange Juice Peas by Lari Don
• Handa’s Surprise by Eileen Browne
• Owl’s Babies by Martin Waddell
• Wolfie’s Secret by Nicole Senior
• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
• We’re Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Children’s stories that were written and published by Mrs Koh (Good Neighbour, Two Sons, Singa and The Mouse and The Ant and The Bee) were also turned into Shoebox Stories!

Through their efforts, the students raised $125,000 to benefit the Singapore Children’s Society (SCS).

The school has been supporting different children’s charities over the past few years. They’ve raised funds for charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children’s Wishing Well and Children’s Cancer Society. Maple Bear has also raised funds by organising or being involved in various charity events including a Children’s Carnival, the Terry Fox Run and Making Dreams Come True.

Buy a story for charity

For its fundraising efforts through the Shoebox Stories, Maple Bear has been appointed as a Patron for the Singapore Children’s Society (SCS).

If you’d like to bring more stories to children, purchase a Shoebox Story! Write to events@maplebear.sg for more details. The proceeds from this will be used to purchase more storybooks for children and the preschools under the care of SCS.

Written in collaboration with:
Maple Bear Singapore
maplebear.sg

Read our guide on where to live in Singapore and the fun things to do in Singapore with kids.

Patricea Chow

Having lived 10 years abroad, Patricea has been rediscovering Singapore through fun events, street photography, and museum tours. She’s also partial to reading, education, spending time with family and kids, and armchair travelling.