Welcome to the
Stone Soup Network
Be The Village!
Improving the lives of those in need.
Hello. My name is Andrew Keslow and I am the founder of the Stonesoup
Network and a senior at Hamden Hall High School in Hamden,
Connecticut. The purpose of our organization is to help families whose
children have been involved in the juvenile justice system, by
providing household needs ranging from furniture and clothing to
kitchen items and school supplies. By reaching out to these families
we hope not only to foster a belief that the community cares, but also
to help reduce the rate of recidivism by juvenile offenders.
Why call it the Stone Soup Network?
I named our volunteer group the Stone Soup Network after Marcia
Brown’s children’s book about three hungry soldiers who come upon a town looking for food. When they are denied by the town’s occupants, they decide to create a soup using only stones and water. Slowly, the reluctant but curious villagers begin to contribute to the soup’s ingredients, eventually creating a lavish meal. It is my strong belief that if everyone gives something, no matter how small, the resulting possibilities are endless!
Our Work
Our work stems from the belief that environment often influences
behavior. For this reason, I work closely with the New Haven Juvenile Justice Department to identify and help families living in poverty whose children have found themselves in trouble with the law.
Our volunteers work together with juvenile probation officers and parents to determine each family’s most pressing needs. The volunteers then scout out free items, collect donated wares, and most importantly, transport everything including heavier items to the homes, using their own vehicles and moving vans.
Taking Action
Seeing it through
Items we have already delivered to families in need include bedroom furniture, sofas, tables, chairs, decorative pieces, children’s books, games, televisions, and computers. Our goal is not only to provide necessary items but to also turn their houses into homes.
