Acts of Kindness Acquired Early

The inner soul of a child is fresh, forgiving, and fearless.   Knowing that, it only makes sense to involve our children in programs that provide an outlet to exhibit these qualities.  The Charlevoix Middle School Builders Club does just that.  It was only five short years ago that the Charlevoix Kiwanis Club, an organization of men and women dedicated to community service, decided to tap into this resource . 

The Kiwanis Club recognized that our young people wanted to take an active role in solving problems and meet the needs of others in our own community and worldwide.  The Builders Club is a great match for our youth as it teaches leadership skills, teamwork, and parliamentary procedure.   The Club is open to all fifth, sixth, and seventh graders interested in helping others. 

This active group of girls and boys put together a Halloween Haunted House that rose close to $200.00 that was shared with a family they adopted in need during the  holiday season.  You may have read about their joint effort with Student Council collecting over 7000 non-perishable food items for the Charlevoix Community Food Pantry.   Projects also included “Pennies for Patients” program -collecting pennies for Leukemia/Lymphoma research, and bake sales to increase the amount they sent to this worthwhile organization.  The Club’s hot chocolate sales during recess earned them  $100.00 a week which will be utilized to help their causes.

If you’ve walked around the outside of the middle school building towards the science and art room area you may have taken in the beauty of the “Butterfly Garden”.  This breath taking piece of landscape was created with many hands, big and small, as our local Garden Club joined efforts with the Builders Club to create this serene setting.  During the winter months while flowers are hibernating, some of the Builders Club members created decorative tiles for the garden under the direction of Caroline Smith, middle school art teacher. 

Other middle school staff, recognizing this active group, put together recycling containers to keep our school involved with creating renewable resources.   Club members are responsible to collect recycled paper and educate others about recycling and what we can do to protect our environment.

The club also involves themselves with bell ringing for the Salvation Army.  Last year’s participation brought an added $300.00.  They also entertained the residents at Sunnybank with Christmas Caroling and Valentine cards.  I am proud of the Builders Club accomplishments and the support given by school counselors Karrie Gaffney and Sue Goss as well as the local Kiwanis Club.  Their combined efforts will be noticed for years to come.  Leo Buscaglia once said, “Too often we under estimate the smallest act of caring, there is potential to turn a life around.” Thank you to all involved, as your smiles, kind words, and gestures of kindness, help so many and have instilled the power of what one good deed can bring.