Action!

The creative and passionate YWCA Kids Place of Columbus, Ohio captured the Make Your Mark Week spirit! What a wonderful project.

Animals

The Northeast Nebraska Humane Society in Norfolk, NE had help from one very special kid, Stevie. Stevie presented a bag of donated items that he collected through his “Birthday Wish” to the Northeast Nebraska Humane Society. The items will be used to help groom and care for the animals in the foster care program. He also donated money to cover any medical expenses that the pets may have such as vet bills and vaccinations.

Lucy’s House for the Prevention of Homeless Pets, Inc. in Essex Junction, VT believes in keeping pets in their homes by supporting families with low and fixed incomes or who have lost their jobs. The members help these families by providing them with free pet food and homemade dog and cat toys to reduce the cost of pet ownership during difficult economic times. The project focused on making dog and cat toys to distribute at local food shelves, through the Meals on Wheels program, to seniors and veterans in baskets at the holidays. The kids made fleece tug toys, catnip sock toys, tennis ball rope toys, and sock ball toys. 

 The Sault Area Middle School Jr. W.O.W. in Sault Ste. Marie, MI reached out to their community in order to buy and secure trees to plant in a new dog park in their neighborhood. They wanted it to be more accessible and scenic. On Oct 21st, students took a bus to the local Animal Shelter to plant the trees in the new dog park.  The students weeded areas and helped build an entrance way for the park. The project will help all families that have dogs in the community as the new park will look beautiful and be more fitting to their needs.

Environment

The Searsport Afterschool Program in Searsport, ME decided to expand the school’s community garden by creating a recycling program and expanding their existing 5210 program. The club did a combination program with middle school students teaching younger students about gardening, composting and the environment. The students also learned about cover crops. The idea of the project was to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and gardening.

The Myers Elementary School Kids Care Club in Gainesville, FL harvested flower seeds from their school garden and added packaged seeds to them to make seed mixtures.  The project was entitled “Make Your Mark – Make A Garden.”  The club bagged small amounts of the seeds, added a label with information about Make Your Mark week and information on growing instructions. Also included was a list of the seeds in the mixture. Once this was done, the club gave the bags of seeds to all the students and teachers in the school.

Hunger

The Logan Avenue Lions Ambassadors in Emporia, KS banded together to hold a food drive at their school.  The kids worked with a local radio station and with help from people in the community.  At the school, the kids made the food drive a contest between classrooms and the winning team (the one with the most canned goods collected) received a party.

Homelessness

The Global Soap Project, held in Watertown, SD had two events this past Wednesday. In the afternoon, their facilitator, Maren Johnson, spoke to about 50 fifth and sixth graders at Immaculate Conception School in Watertown, SD, about the Global Soap Project and about hand washing. That evening about 25 9th and 10^th graders joined in on the activities as they helped package nearly 4,700 pounds of used hotel soap for shipment to Atlanta. The kids stressed the importance of soap and keeping clean to stay healthy.

Literacy

The Kids Helping Kids Kids Care Club in Stamford, CT knit hats for children living in Nagarote, Nicaragua. The hats will be sold and 100% of the money will be given directly to NicaPhoto, an incredible local organization run by a woman who lives in the Nagarote community and runs the education project.  The club has already raised $300 to sponsor 3 kids to go to school for an entire year. This year, the kids are looking to help more children and give them a chance by providing them with an education versus a life of no opportunity.

The P.S. 203 Kids Care Club in Brooklyn, NY participated in a book swap in which over 500 students took part. The students that were involved were all underprivileged children, from economically challenged homes.  The club had another event on October 17^th, in which the kids ran a “Hats On” event to raise money and awareness of children undergoing cancer treatment. The money raised will be forwarded to a related charity. The club is committed to teach the importance of service to their community and those in the world that need support.