GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A group of Gladstone students has gone above and beyond its goal to help those in need.
The James T. Jones Elementary School Kindness Club wrapped up its second annual Hygiene Drive. Members collected toiletries and other necessities to donate to people who need them.
What started as the fifth-grade club’s project turned into a school-wide effort.
“Our Kindness Club was able to get the rest of the school involved by turning it into a little bit of a competition of who could bring in the most items,” said Mallory Burie, Kindness Club director and life skills teacher for Gladstone Elementary Schools.
Burie says approximately half of the entire student body worked together to bring in the Kindness Club’s target of 250 items.
“Once we started reaching towards that goal, I was like, ‘Okay, it’ll start to slow down,'” said Burie.
However, by the end of the drive, the students had brought in more than 600 hygiene products to donate to the St. Vincent de Paul pantry.
“To see them really take it and run with it made my heart so happy,” Burie said. “The rest of the staff and community members, we’re so proud of them with how great they did with this.”
Kindness Club members Finn Paulson and Sophia Smith even helped pack and load everything up to deliver to the pantry.
“I think it’s really just important to help,” said Paulson. “For people who can’t afford this stuff, it really helps to be clean and have the hygiene. It’s always a good cause.”
Smith says the drive builds character. She believes donating is something everyone should consider doing.
“You just kind of make them think, like if you were this person, you would need all of these items just like you need them in your house right now,” Smith said.
According to pantry manager Mary Knoch, many of the items donated–like toothpaste, deodorant, and soap–are severely needed. She says they are not usually found in donations made to St. Vincent de Paul.
“The toiletries and things we have to go buy and then stock our shelves with them,” Knoch explained. “They’re also things that people cannot buy with their Bridge Cards. If they have a Bridge Card for food, it’s for food. We’re really grateful to this Kindness Club for getting this for us.”
Burie and Knoch believe this experience will have an influence on the students’ lives.
“Our goal when we do projects like this is to help them work on their compassion and generosity, their own self-esteem, and helping them know they did something good,” Burie said.
“I once heard a quote that said, ‘Happiness lies in doing for others,'” said Knoch. “I think that what they were doing did make them happy. It’s such a valuable lesson for our young people to learn.”
Burie says she plans to continue the Kindness Club Hygiene Drive for years to come. In the meantime, club members encourage everyone to help someone in need in any way they can.
“It’s always cool to kind of help out,” said Paulson. “Even if it costs you a little bit, it’s always cool to help out your community or people who need it.”
