Throughout the school year, PVS students have been learning about and participating in random acts of kindness. During the event last month, families were invited to help the children spread kindness beyond the school walls by visiting various service stations set up throughout the school to participate in hands-on activities that support local charities. In addition, children’s literature musician Emily Arrow performed throughout the evening.
The service stations included Meals on Wheels, Blue Star Moms, Shoes 4 the Shoeless, St. Vincent DePaul, SICSA, BOGG (Because of God’s Grace), Helping Hands of Dayton and local nursing homes.
The random acts of kindness included writing more than 200 letters to servicemen and women deployed overseas, collecting hundreds of food items which will go to needy Centerville families, designing 250 placemats for the Meals on Wheels’ local seniors, collecting 540 pairs of socks, making 200 chew toys for dogs, making 500 Peace Bracelets which will be delivered to children receiving food bank donations and filling 77 Birthday Bags with cake, icing, coloring books, banner and birthday cards for children at St. Vincent DePaul homeless shelter.
“The students have been learning how to be kind without expectations and without being told to do so,” said Sarah Swan, spokesperson for Centerville Schools. Examples of kind gestures are picking up litter and throwing it away without being asked or reaching out to another student who is sad or upset or paying a compliment to someone.
About the Author