Students discover happiness of doing good deeds
Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008
BENTONVILLE - Teacher Linda Croy gave her students an unusual assignment a couple of weeks ago. Each second-grader in her room received printed instructions, and attached to each student's instructions was a $ 5 bill.
"I just wanted the children to learn about giving back," Croy said. "This is a great group of students, and they came up with some ideas that I never would have dreamed of. I'm so proud of them, and I think they all had fun with the assignment."
Given two weeks to complete the assignment, students were asked to do a good deed for someone other than their immediate family with the $ 5. They were told to discuss the assignment with their parents and ask their advice. Finally, students were told they would be asked to write stories to read to the class about their good deeds.
Croy's students came up with some wonderful ways to brighten the world through kindness. After discussing options with her mother, Raleigh Guess chose to raise money to donate to the American Red Cross in order to help a family who lost everything in a fire. Along with the $ 5 Mrs. Croy gave her, Raleigh's generosity inspired her 10-year-old brother, Benton, to donate $ 16, and her 4-year-old sister, Caroline, donated $ 1. 14.
Robin Dorf, community relations coordinator for the American Red Cross, commented about Raleigh's gooddeed assignment.
"You often hear complaints about a generation that has no awareness of the needs around them," Dorf said. "Then you find children like Raleigh and her siblings who prove there is still a commitment to helping your neighbors."
Several other students received plenty of sincere thanks and notes from those who benefited from their good deeds. Student Hannah Blackmon turned her $ 5 bill into $ 90 by buying flowers and selling them individually to neighbors and friends. With the $ 90, Hannah purchased lots of stuffed animals for the children in Mercy Medical Center. Sarah Southers and her mom were given a tour of the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, where Sarah's money was donated.
Noah Sherry bought books at the Dollar Store. He donated them to children in the hospital. Taylor Pettigrew bought art supplies with the $ 5. She painted three paintings and sold them for $ 20 each. Taylor donated $ 60 to the auxiliary ladies at the hospital. Rachna Paruchuri gave the $ 5 to a poor family. The family gave her a thank-you card. Maxwell Niemeyer bought flowers for his grandmother's friend, who is sick.
"She smiled when I gave them to her," Niemeyer explained. "And she tells everyone about the flowers I gave her. It made her happy."
Logan Gladwell's dad is a Marine who has served in Iraq. He told Logan about the Semper Fi Fund for injured Marines. That's where Logan's $ 5 went. Madison Howard purchased cat and dog toys and delivered them to the Lone Pine Ranch Animal Shelter in Centerton. She said the volunteers there thanked her for her donation. Derek Coles made a $ 5 donation to the Children's Miracle Network, and Gabriel Hornsby donated through his church to Feed the Children. Hunter Quillin, Clint Rouhselang and Charlie Ball Fuller chose to support the Ronald McDonald House with the money Mrs. Croy gave them.
Mikhail Silcox bought food for kittens and donated it to an animal shelter. Mackenzie Wade did something nice for each of her classmates. She made necklaces for all the girls and key chains for all the boys. Victoria Velasquez bought a big stuffed bear and delivered it to the hospital to be given to a sick child. Zac Duke walked a mile and ran a quarter mile to fight colon cancer, along with donating his money to that cause. Amani Jannah-Celestine donated money to homeless people who are ill. The organization she helped is the Star of Hope. Amani volunteered to help the homeless, as well. With the $ 5 Mrs. Croy gave her, Josten Payne decorated a plate and gave it to a nursing home.
Habitat for Humanity received Tanner Gotwalt's donation. He and his family are going to help with the building of a home in Gravette, too. Montana Ulrich and his mom bought food to donate to a fund for hungry families. Kyzer Quattlebaum shopped at Petco for toys and treats for homeless dogs at the Humane Society of Rogers.
"There were Labs and golden retrievers and everything," Kyzer read from his good-deed essay. "They all need homes, and I petted all 100 dogs. It's a good feeling when you do a good deed."
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