Village Tech 3rd graders found a spark when they were working on several different challenges in the classroom as part of Kindness Month. Some of the students approached their teachers and asked if they could host a donation ‘drive’ to help people in need in our community.

As a way to spark empathy with their class, the team asked the other students to help decide what items they thought would be good to collect. Ideas like coats, school supplies, clothes, basic toiletry items, and other small things. After everyone presented their ideas within a ‘yes, and’ circle, the class collaborated to come up with the idea of donation-filled backpacks! They came up with a list of different items that could be put in the backpacks, and immediately started collecting donations from students, staff, and the surrounding community as well! They requested soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, socks, books, lotion, coloring books, and more. Due to the number of incoming donations, the teachers and students both decided to extend the donation due date from the week before Spring Break until the week after the break. Little did they know, this was a blessing in disguise! Upon returning from the break, Village Tech celebrated the 100th day of school. Ms. Angelo, a PreK teacher, decided this was the perfect time to teach her students about empathy and collaboration. She challenged her students to bring 100 different items to give to the 3rd-grade project. After just a few days, Ms. Angelo and her students were able to hand-deliver over 200 items to the cause! They also synergized and came up with the project title ‘Blessing Backpacks’. A few 3rd graders and PreK students will be going to deliver the backpacks to the Genesis Women’s Shelter soon. We are so proud of these amazing students!