It’s Almost Time for Our Favorite Annual Tradition! Coming in January…
MOSAL: a Month of Service and Learning
The Hubbard Woods community takes part in a Month of Service and Learning (MOSAL) each winter. Over several weeks, students engage in age-appropriate service learning through classroom discussions, literature, and town hall assemblies, alongside hands-on projects that allow them to put learning into action.
This year, Hubbard Woods is partnering with Radical Generosity, an organization that works with numerous nonprofits across Chicagoland to support individuals and families experiencing housing and food insecurity.
This year’s project is all about…birthdays!
As part of our Month of Service & Learning, our school community is partnering to help create “birthday bags” for families experiencing food and housing insecurity. These bags help ensure that everyone has the chance to feel celebrated on their birthday.
To make participation accessible, meaningful, and age-appropriate, our project includes two connected ways to give—one designed for ease and one designed for hands-on learning.
1: Easy, impactful giving: Amazon Wishlist Drive
Live now through Friday, January 16
This option offers a simple, point-and-click way for families to contribute. By donating through our Amazon wishlist, you help provide the core items that go into each birthday bag—things like cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, and small gifts.
Our goal is to create 365 birthday bags — a full year of birthdays!
All wishlist donations are shipped directly and combined with items from our in-school collection to complete each bag.
2: In-School Birthday Food Drive: Learning Through Action
Week of January 19-23, 2026
Children learn best by doing, and this in-school drive allows students to actively participate in helping others.
In classrooms (and hopefully, at home!), students will reflect on how they celebrate birthdays and what makes those moments feel special—favorite meals, traditions, or treats. These conversations help build empathy and awareness for those who may not have the same opportunities to celebrate.
Students are invited to bring in one or more non-perishable pantry items that feel birthday-worthy. Examples include pancake mix, spaghetti, cake mix, sprinkles, taco kits, or jarred tomato sauce.
About Our 2026 Service Project
Radical Generosity Chicago (RGC), a 501(c)(3) organization, embodies its name by connecting, motivating, and mobilizing communities to provide critical support to families facing food and housing insecurity in the Chicagoland area.
Food, clothing, and other essential items are donated and distributed by families, schools, local civic groups, businesses, and volunteers nationwide.
Bringing Service to Life: Our 2025 Project
The students’ contributions and learnings during MOSAL every year make a real impact. Check out this video about our 2025 project… and get excited for all the good to come this year!
Questions about MOSAL?
The PTO is grateful to Jessalyn Garvey and Kali Zafirovski for organizing this year’s MOSAL initiatives. Please feel free to reach out to them with questions!