Passing Kindness On, One Act at a Time
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WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO - 2011
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On January 7, we brought "Christmas in January" to children at Hollinger Elementary, a school where 97% of them qualify for free or reduced lunch. Kindness ideas from the children included, "Be thankful for the things you have and share with others," and "Make things for people in the hospital." The children were very excited when they heard the "free raffle" prizes we had for them included a PlayStation and a bicycle! In addition to their toy packages, they also received books, school supplies, dental packages, socks and snacks.
Children at Rivera Elementary, including some with the challenges of Autism, were the recipients of our Kindness Gift Giving Program on January 14. The children were anxious and excited to share their many great kindness ideas. A hug that was given to one of our volunteers from one of the children touched her in such a way that she knew TSKP being there had made a great impact on him. We were given a very special thank you with painted handprints from the children, and there were big smiles on their faces we left.
We attended the birthday celebration of the Peace Garden at Manuel Herrera Park on February 5. The eyes of the children who were new to the garden got very big as they saw what we had for them, with the older children being especially touched and thankful. One of the older teens passed on kindness by choosing a gift package for his younger sister instead of himself. Face painters, games and a visit from Augie of Gabriel's Angels made it a special day for the children in this low-income, high risk neighborhood.
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| We passed on kindness to children at Keeling Elementary on February 16. They enjoyed being read, "Gorp's Dream," by one of our volunteers, a book that focuses on kindness and acceptance of others. The children were very happy to hear they were able to take as many books as they wanted, and two new bikes that had been donated by Starbucks made the "free raffle" part of the event very exciting for all!
It was noisy but fun when we brought our program to the preschoolers at La Frontera Child and Family Services on March 2. We were happy to have Dr. Seuss books that had been donated by Kohl's to give the children when we found out they had been doing classroom activities that day in recognition of Dr. Seuss's birthday. The kindness of a volunteer was appreciated by one of the children, who thanked her for helping them put their toy package in the big bag we had given them.
We visited the Our Family La Escuelita Program on March 31. The children ranged in age from newborn to 15, as siblings of the children attending this after school program were also invited to attend our program. The children were very excited to receive all the gifts from us after the interactive discussion about kindness. Some of the children took so many books, they dragged their bags on the floor as they had become too heavy for them to carry!
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There was much excitement when we visited the preschoolers at Liberty Head Start on April 14. "Listen to your teacher" and "Don't say bad words or I hate you" were two of the favorite kindness ideas from the children. A grateful father thanked one of our volunteers and told her, "This helps a lot," while the aunt of another little girl told us, "This is Christmas for her." Sheila from Perimeter Bicycling was there to fit the two bike winners with new helmets, and the staff was so happy that "just the right boy" won a new bike.
Our event at Sentinel Peak Alternative High School on April 27 was a memorable one for our volunteers. Students attending this school are unable to succeed in a regular school setting due to difficult issues in their lives, and everyone watched as their "tough" exteriors melted away during our program. The teens were very surprised and happy to see what was in the gift packages we had for them, along with everything else, and volunteers were thanked with hugs.
The entire third grade at Los Ninos Elementary School attended our Kindness Gift Giving Event on May 5. The students were very engaged when "Gorp's Dream" was read to them, and hands immediately went up when the interactive discussion on kindness began. Many of our volunteers were touched by comments the children made to them, such as, "This is more than I got for Christmas" and "This is the best day I ever had." We were glad to have brought snack crackers for the children as a volunteer was asked by one of the children if she could eat them now since she hadn't had breakfast.
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| More children than anticipated attended the Menlo Park Elementary After School Program on May 18, so we were happy to have brought extra gift packages! A staff member of this 97% free and reduced lunch school was very touched when she saw one of the neediest children flying a kite and wearing his new socks after we left. One of our volunteers performed an act of kindness by helping a little girl carry her bag since it was so full that it was too heavy for her!
On June 28, we passed on kindness to the children who volunteer for the Youth Community Corps. These children, most of who were refugees or from a group home, volunteer each day to give back to the community by working on a garden in a low-income neighborhood. They were very excited during the event, and staff members commented how they had never seen so many smiles on the faces of these children. Several of the children were genuinely excited when they had the opportunity to pass on the kindness we had just discussed by getting help for an older woman that had fallen near the park at the end of our event.
When we visited New Beginnings Shelter for Women and Children on July 14, it was hard to tell who was more excited, the children or the moms! There were many great kindness ideas from the children, with "Don't judge anyone" and "Be respectful of other cultures" being two of our favorites. In addition to the books and toys for the children to have something to play with, the moms were especially thankful for the backpacks and school supplies we had for their children.
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| Volunteers took two hour shifts at Tucson Medical Center’s Children’s Emergency Center from 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on July 23. Children that came in as patients as well as their siblings received gift packages and books to relieve the stress of a visit to the hospital. Waiting siblings were entertained by volunteers with games and books. Grateful parents were very appreciative of the distraction our volunteers gave to the children!
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"BACKPACK NIGHT" BECOMES "KINDNESS WEEK"
AT THE VALENCIA LIBRARY
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Thanks to partnerships with Starbucks, the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, the Valencia Library, Make Way for Books, Kool Smiles and the Pima County Board of Supervisors, our annual "backpack night" became "kindness week" at the Valencia Library from August 1-5. During that week, the library displayed books focusing on kindness as well as display boards of organizations needing volunteers. Kindness activities that took place were:
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Monday: Teens were invited to come place kindness stickers in books to be given out by The Shyann Kindness Project on Friday.
Tuesday: Sandy from TSKP read "Gorp's Dream" during Family Story Time. Children received a copy of "My Promise to Gorp" to sign and take home, promising to be nice and not be a bully.
Wednesday: Clifford the Big Red Dog made a visit to the library and Beki from the Sunnyside Neighborhood read a Clifford book on kindness. A visit from Gabriel's Angels dog Augie was a special treat, and all the children received Scooby Doo dog bone graham crackers with a kindness card for them to use attached.
Thursday: Make Way for Books acted out and read kindness stories during bilingual storytime.
Friday: Backpack Night!! Children received backpacks, school supplies, books, and videos. Toys were given to the children that were too young for school. Activities included haircuts by students from Tucson College of Beauty, dental information and toothbrushes from Kool Smiles, and face painting by volunteers.
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| Annaiz Valenzuela Volunteering |
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| "Gorp's Dream" Storytime |
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Children receiving backpacks and school supplies were asked to write an essay or draw a picture telling how they show kindness to others. The essays were judged by Chairman Ramon Valadez from District 2, Beki Quintero, President of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, Linda Leatherman from Pima County Community Services, Sol Gomez, Valencia Library Director, and Jesus Mario Valenzuela from Kool Smiles. The following were winners of the six best essays and received a computer provided by the Pima County Board of Supervisors:
Francisca Alvarado
Bayona/Barrios Family
Erik Loya
Angelina Rodriquez
Cristina Sanchez
Annaiz Valenzuela
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| Francisca Alvarado |
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| Erik Loya |
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| Bayona/Barrios Family |
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HEARTFELT THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED MAKE KINDNESS WEEK POSSIBLE!
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| The neediest children at Los Ranchitos Elementary School were chosen to attend our Kindness Gift Giving Program on August 16. The eyes of the children that didn't have a backpack lit up when they saw the selection we had for them to choose from, and staff members from the school helped to make sure all the children got the school supplies they needed. A small Martin guitar was a popular item for the "free raffles," and the principal of the school thought the winner of a unicorn pillow pet was the perfect one!
The children that had appointments at St. Andrew's Clinica for Children with Special Needs on September 1 were happy to see TSKP there that day! Iced tea and baked goods provided by Starbucks and ice cream sandwiches from Schwan's were very popular on this hot day. Some of the therapists working that day commented on what a big deal it was for the kids to get new toys, and how happy they were playing with them.
After bringing our program to the New Beginnings Shelter for Women and Children, the staff asked if we would also bring our program to the New Beginnings Transitional Housing, which we did on September 8. After the children shared the ways they had showed kindness that day, they became very excited when they saw everything we had for them. The children passed on kindness to TSKP by helping volunteers carry out boxes at the end of the event.
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The kindness discussion with the 2nd graders at C. E. Rose Elementary School on October 6 was so engaging that the time almost got away from us! Everyone was touched as one of the young girls shared how her brother had always been mean and after she talked to him about it, he became a nicer person. Twin boys who were always fighting decided to try being nicer to each other. When it came time for us to pass on kindness to the children, their excitement as they saw the toy packages was so extreme it brought tears to the eyes of one of our volunteers.
The 4th graders at Mission Manor Elementary School were very happy that we brought our program there on October 26. One of the girls attending the program was excited to show a school staff member everything she had received as she said, "Look at what I got! My mom couldn't afford this." When asked by one of our volunteers if she got what she wanted, another girl replied, "I did! I've been asking my mom for this but she couldn't afford it for me and now I have it and I'm so excited!" Almost 700 books were taken by the children, many of whom had no books of their own at home.
It was a busy event at Lynn Urquides Elementary School on November 16! The young children had fun picking out their toy packages and were very happy that we had so many books for them. Many of the parents were there during the event and were very grateful for what we gave to their children during these tough times. The children took the message of kindness to heart as they all wanted to share their "goodies" with their siblings.
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| Christmas came early to the children attending the Salvation Army Meal Program on Thanksgiving Day! For the sixth year, volunteers from TSKP were there to give the children toy packages, books, school supplies, dental items and snacks. Parents were very grateful and the children left with big smiles on their faces.
Our Fifth Annual Christmas Party took place at Los Ninos Elementary School on December 17 for 206 children, along with their parents. To see 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 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and gave out gift packages and books to the children that came to the Emergency Center at Tucson Medical Center on Christmas Eve. One of the patients decided to pass on a kindness by choosing a gift package to give to her niece instead of taking one for herself. It was a slow day at the Emergency Center, which is always a good thing!
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