A Magic Moment For Deserving Kids

120 Children Of Migrant Farm Workers Spent A Day At A Build-A-Bear Workshop

(CBS)  Debra Young volunteers at the Guatemalan-Maya Center in Florida where children of migrant farm workers come for after school activities. She wrote The Early Show hoping for a Magic Moment for her deserving pupils.

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Each weekday afternoon in Palm Beach County, Fla., 120 children come straight from school to the Guatemalan-Maya Center. Many of these kids were born in the United States but are children of migrant farm workers. The center helps them with academics and other activities.

For the past two years, Debra Young has been a center volunteer.

"They always get a snack when they first come in," she said. "They do homework, arts and crafts. They do projects with me through my books, which is a literacy project. They are without a doubt some of the sweetest, nicest, most humble children."

Debra, a former teacher wrote to The Early Show to request a Magic Moment the center could not otherwise afford to give the children.

"Dear Early Show," the letter said. "These children have a zest for learning and a passion for art. I would like to incorporate an activity where they design and clothe their own stuffed bear at the Build-a-Bear store in a local mall."

Debra said that the children who attend the Guatemalan-Maya Center are often from homes that are wealthy enough to afford the toys and trips that other families enjoy. Some have never been to the mall and some have never even owned a teddy bear. Yet, on their Magic Moments trip to the Gardens mall in Palm Beach, they are just like any other kids their age.

They ate pizza — donated by Sbarro — and received hugs from Bearemy, Build-a-Bear's mascot. They also had the chance to build their own friend from scratch.

"I think a teddy bear is more than just a toy," Debra told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "I think it's a security blanket for many children. It provides a best friend for children, a creative outlet for children. And it was — in my case, it was tied into one of the stories in one of my books — and the kids, after they did the story, I wanted them to have the experience of actually having a bear so that it would help them, motivate them to read and so that was part of it."

Home Depot provided the center with a $600 gift card to go towards tables for the classroom and Crayola promised $5,000 worth of art supplies for the kids. First Book, a partner of Build-a-Bear Workshop, will send several hundred books for the program.

On top of all that, to thank her for the hard work she has done, Bearemy came to The Early Show to present Debra with several gifts. She will be dining at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain and enjoying the acclaimed musical "Jersey Boys." She will also see all the sites of New York City on Grayline's New York City sightseeing tour.

"I wasn't expecting all of this," she said. "Thank you."

Learn more about some of the companies that helped make this trip happen by visiting these sites:

BuildABear.com, Sbarro.com, TheGardensMall.com, HomeDepot.com, Crayola.com and FirstBook.org.

[bgh1118]

A very well done segment! Debra has made many sacrifices in order to help those less fortunate--especially children. Her enthusiasm for her work with this particular group of kids was evident in watching and listening to her on Wed. It was, indeed, a Magic Moment which these children will hold in their hearts--along with their bears--for a long long time. I think other educators would be interested in her books and the innovative approach she uses to incorporate fun (imagine!) into literacy and learning! Again, kudos to all involved in this piece!

[furbulis]

More magic moments will be shared thanks to CBS, digitalbugkids, crayola, home depot. I volunteered in Ohio Reads program & Debra donated her book The Ugly Duckling - finding your inner beauty. My student did not miss one day of our session, she loved the book. Together we read, created colorful pictures sharing our time together. Now Debra has created the book Sandi's Furry Friends to help rescue/homeless animals. Thank you & blessings to you, Debra. From your sister Sandi & my furry friends. coalitionforanimalconcerns.org

[bgh1118]

A very well done segment! Debra has made many sacrifices in order to help those less fortunate--especially children; and her enthusiasm for her work with this particular group of kids was obvious while watching and listening to her. It was, indeed, a Magic Moment which these children will hold in their hearts--along with their bears--for a long time. I think other educators would be interested in Debra's books and how she uses them to promote literacy along with fun! Again, kudos to all for a beautiful piece!

[jessicah201]

What a wonderful segment for such a deserving woman! She really is completely devoted to children. Debra even ties in fun with literacy!! This is the hardest, and yet most important thing to do these days. Keep up the great work and those amazing, and fun stories.

Thank you CBS for a truely "Magic Moment", and Thank you Debra Young for www.digitalbugkids.com

[tykishagrant]

Dear Early Show,

I want to applaud you for selecting Debra Young's request for the children she works with at the Mayan Center. Debra is an exceptional individual who has worked for years to positively impact any and every young person she has come into contact with. If there is a disadvantaged child within a 20 mile radius of Debra, she will make it her mission to help them if it is within her power. From coaxing a group of young local rap artists to promote literacy, to establishing a school memorial garden in remembrance of the victims of 911, Debra continues to serve as a beacon of light and an activist of hope in her community. Thank you again for helping her to help and inspire others to do the same.

Tykisha Grant

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[sticksbrah11]

What a wonderful and inspiring story to show how unselfish some people are. Glad these people are getting the recognition that they deserve.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.

[iddybiddy1]

What a delight. Good people doing good things for other good people. Truly a 'Magic Moment'. Thank you for bringing this to a national venue. Kudos to CBS and big blessings to Debra. Best wishes for her continued success with her programs for the Guatamalan children.