Civic Engagement Clearinghouse
Eastern Washington University
This is a pencil drive for kids and families that simply cannot afford pencils or writing utensils. Education gets put on the “back burner” sort of speak for many people all over the world, providing food on the table can be hard enough and it comes down to it, they stop seeing schooling as a priority. This gives kids the opportunity that they didn’t see as possible before.
The Painted Wood Project was inspired by the Kindness Rocks Project having the same idea in mind, to spread kindness through the community. It evolved into painting wood pieces for the children to give to someone who they appreciate and has impacted their life in a positive way. The idea for the Painted Wood Project was to show love and kindness to someone who has shown it to you.
For this project, I partnered with Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. I worked with students and explained to them how there are kids their age within the hospital that are still having to learn while being isolated and not around their friends. Because of this, we wanted these children to feel seen, heard, and know that we were thinking of them, so we provided bracelets that shared uplifting words of encouragement to provide to these children in the hospital with love and happiness!
During this project students learn about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, plastic pollution (with an emphasis on plastic shopping bags), The Ocean Clean Up Project, and local recycling options. Students create speeches to share with other classes and collect plastic shopping bags to be recycled. Teacher takes the bags to Walmart to be recycled.
I partnered with anysoldier.com and picked a Marine who requested some items be sent to him and 8 other Marines who are currently in Iraq. My students and their families donated some items to be sent. The students made small care packages for each of the 9 Marines and wrote a letter to be sent to them.
The project was done with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the students created a huge thank you card as a class to give to the police officers to thank them for all they do for our community. In return, the police officers took a picture with them holding the card and I showed the class how much the police officers appreciated the card and loved the kind act of service.
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