Passing Kindness On, One Act at a Time
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WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO - 2010
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We visited the Primavera Greyhound Transitional Shelter on January 16. Thanks to generous donations received, we had a lot of clothing and toiletries to offer the families who were staying there. A small TV was a popular "free raffle" item, with a very grateful family telling us it had been four months since they had been able to watch TV. We left with the children happily playing with toys and reading books we had given them.
The preschoolers at the Erickson Head Start Program were the recipients of our Kindness Gift Giving Program on January 28. The children and adults both enjoyed being read "Gorp's Dream," a book focusing on kindness and acceptance. The story was followed by an interactive discussion with the children on what it means to be accepting and kind to others. We received many hugs from the children for the toy packages, books, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, TSKP coloring books, crayons, and other items we gave them.
Although rain was predicted, it was a beautiful sunny day when we brought our program to the Peace Garden at Manuel Herrera Park on February 6. We were happy to be able to pass on kindness to a group of teens from the Tucson Police Department's Gang Prevention Unit that day. Sandy was very touched as one of the young boys presented her with a special birdhouse he had made in school. Face painting, sand art, games and visits from Augie and Siena, two dogs from Gabriel's Angels, added to the fun day.
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| One happy boy! |
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| Choosing the right package |
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| Chaparral Middle School Group |
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| The receipients of our program on February 23 at Chaparral Middle School sat listening intently to the discussion of kindness and acceptance, a message we were told by the Assistant Principal many of them in the group needed to hear. "Giving words of encouragement to others" was a kindness idea several of the students thought was a good one. A kindness idea was acted upon as one of the students chose a gift package for her cousin rather than herself. As we were leaving, several students who had been at our program saw us in the distance and waved to us as they yelled, "Thank you. You're very kind!"
When we brought our program to the 4th grade students at Ocotillo Elementary School on March 11, they were full of questions during the kindness discussion, and had many great ideas of their own. Kindness was demonstrated by one of the boys during the raffle portion of the program. After the number called wasn't claimed by anyone, another ticket was chosen. As the winner with that ticket was going up to receive the prize, the original winning ticket was found. The boy graciously told the original winner that she could have the prize, demonstrating kindness and avoiding any hard feelings.
"This is awesome!" and "This is so cool!" were comments from some of the 2nd grade students at Roberts Elementary School on March 25. A simple kindness idea from one of the students was our favorite as she said, "We could just love each other." The children were very grateful for everything they received, and were respectful by taking only the school supplies they needed so we would have them for other children as well.
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| Happy with his package |
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| Lots of smiles! |
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We crowded into a small room with the 1st grade students that attended the Kindness Gift Giving Event at Walter Douglas Elementary School on April 5. Although close to the end of the school year, the children were thrilled to receive the school supplies they still needed. Additionally, toys, books, crayons, and TSKP coloring books made by Pima Partnership High School students were popular items, as were the toothbrushes and toothpaste.
On April 21, the K-5th graders at Los Amigos Elementary School paid close attention as the story, "Gorp's Dream," a book focusing on kindness and acceptance of others, was read to them. The children shared a lot of different kindness ideas during the interactive discussion and were very happy with everything they received as our way of passing on kindness to them. Our volunteers received many thank you hugs from the grateful children.
We brought our program to a small group of children attending the Creative Expressions After School Program on May 11. Although excited when seeing everything we would be giving them, they were so engaged in the interactive discussion about kindness with our volunteers that they didn't mind delaying choosing all their items! When told about the snacks we had for them, one boy commented how that would be a meal for him.
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| Ready with her kindness idea |
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| Lots of books to choose from |
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| A happy group |
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| Loves his books! |
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| In partnership with Starbucks, our annual visit to St. Andrew's Clinica for Children with Special Needs on June 3 was a heartwarming event for all volunteers. Although many of the children were not able to communicate, the happy looks on their faces said it all! Volunteers were impressed and inspired by a little girl in a wheelchair, who not having good use of her hands, used her toes as fingers to pick things up and even turn pages of a book. Iced tea and coffee provided by Starbucks, along with baked goods provided by volunteers, were a welcome treat for the families. Volunteers also had fun playing with children while they waited in line.
The families at the Santa Rosa Head Start Program were very happy and surprised to see everything we would be giving them when we brought our program there on June 14. We had been told our message of kindness and acceptance fit in well with what they were trying to teach at the Head Start Program, and we were able to show these families that there were people who cared about them. The children that started out being very shy soon warmed up to our volunteers, and had smiles on their faces and arms full of goodies when they left to catch the bus back home.
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| This one looks good! |
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It was a heartwarming experience for everyone that volunteered when we brought our Kindness Gift Giving Program to the Summer Program for Children with Special Needs at Los Amigos Elementary on July 6. Volunteers gave each child individualized attention to ensure they received the items that were appropriate for their abilities. Use of their communication devices during the event was encouraged by program staff, and many of the children became quite attached to our volunteers, and our volunteers to them.
We brought our program to Tucson Medical Center's Children's Emergency Center to relieve some of the stress of the children who needed to be there on July 24. Volunteers took shifts from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. and gave out toy packages and books to all the children. In addition to waiting siblings being kept busy with their toy packages, volunteers also helped keep them occupied by playing games and reading to them.
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| One Happy Boy |
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| Happier Than When She Came In |
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| Lots of Backpacks to Choose From |
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| On August 3, we distributed backpacks and school supplies to 250 children in the Sunnyside Neighborhood at their National Night Out. Volunteers were kept busy face painting, cutting hair, and making sure the children got their backpacks, appropriate school supplies, books and dental items.
We are especially grateful for the partnership of Tucson Starbucks for the fourth year of this event, not only for collecting school supplies in their stores, but also for the many Starbucks partners who volunteered with us to organize school supplies, load and unload the truck, and distribute the backpacks and school supplies.
Our very special thanks to the following for their participation in collecting backpacks and school supplies and/or donations that made our "backpack night" possible:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of SO AZ
Delta Dental
Feed The Children
La Mariposa Resort
Starbucks Coffee Company
Tanque Verde Automotive
Tanque Verde Extended Care Program
The Oasis Church
UPS Store-120 S. Houghton Road
UPS Store-9121 E. Tanque Verde
And our heartfelt thanks to everyone that donated backpacks and school supplies! Thanks to your help, The Shyann Kindness Project is able to offer those items to children in low-income areas throughout the year!
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| Volunteers Ready to Help |
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| That's a Stuffed Backpack! |
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Los Ranchitos Elementary School was the site of our Kindness Gift Giving Event on August 17. The 73 children at this 96% free and reduced lunch school were specially selected to attend our program, either because of their extreme need for the items we provided, or because they especially needed to hear our message of kindness and acceptance. We were told by the school principal that most of these children did not have books of their own and only got books from the library, which they then had to return. The children were amazed that these books were theirs to keep and excitedly chose 500 books! Several of the boys had a hard time deciding on their gift packages because they had planned to do an act of kindness by giving the gifts to one of their friends for this birthday.
We brought our program to the University Medical Center's picnic for children with cancer on September 12 to bring extra smiles to the children that were able to attend that day. The children enjoyed picking out their gift packages and books, with a girl who loves knitting happily choosing a package that included a teddy bear to knit. The children were happy to pass on kindness to one of the volunteers from Starbucks by singing "Happy Birthday" to her!
The teenage parents that attend the Desert View High School TAPP Program were the recipients of our Kindness Gift Giving Program on September 30. Each student received a gift package and books for themselves as well as their children, along with school supplies, dental items, snacks, baby clothing and shampoo. A little boy that was there during our event began crying, and was quickly comforted as soon as he was given a book with an elephant puppet.
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| Loves her backpack! |
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| Choosing the right package |
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| What a cutie! |
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| What a great smile! |
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| On October 20, we brought our Kindness Gift Giving Program to Merilac Lodge, a group home for teenage girls and their children. One of our volunteers offered encouragement to the girls as she shared her personal story of being a teenage mom, and how she overcame the challenges. A big smile came to the face of one of the girls when she heard we had flip flops, as she showed us the one she was wearing had a big chunk taken out of it! The girls were very grateful for all the items they received for their children and themselves.
The families that were currently living at the Primavera Greyhound Transitional Shelter were the recipients of our program on October 23. After seeing the toy packages, one of the parents commented on how the children would now have something to play with. The children were very grateful for the backpacks and school supplies we had for them, and also took a lot of books! In addition to the shampoo and toothpaste the families received, the children were also given toothbrushes.
The young children at the Southside Head Start Program enjoyed the books, "We're Different, We're The Same," and "It's Okay To Be Different," that were read by one of our volunteers on November 15. The parents were very grateful for everything we provided their children, and books were very popular, with 385 being given out! Following our visit, the teachers at this program had a week of lessons and activities planned that focused on kindness to reinforce the message the children received from us.
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| A grateful family |
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| Picked the right package |
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As expected, there were more children this year than previous years at the Salvation Army Meal Program when we brought our Kindness Gift Giving Program there on Thanksgiving Day. After a brief talk about kindness, the children received toy packages, books, dental items, school supplies and snacks. Some children couldn't wait until after they ate, and visited our program first! A single dad had tears in his eyes as he watched his young daughter pick out her gift package. Many of the parents were very grateful for the gift of kindness shown their children.
Our Fourth Annual Christmas Party took place at Lynn Urquides Elementary School on December 17 for 200 children, along with their parents. To see more pictures and a list of those who made this party possible, please go to the Christmas Party page.
Our annual tradition continued as volunteers took shifts from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. at TMC's Children's Emergency Center on Christmas Eve, December 24. Gift packages and books were given to children who came in as patients as well as their siblings. Volunteers kept the waiting siblings occupied by playing games with them. Several of the parents had tears in their eyes when they saw what we had for their children. Thankfully, it was a slow day at the Emergency Center, but the children who came in felt just a bit better after receiving their gift packages and books.
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| Found a good one! |
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| Pictures with Santa |
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| Being kept occupied at TMC |
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