Random Acts of Kindness
The Hudson Middle School has been involved in an event called "Random Acts of Kindness". The event was cooked up by Literacy Coach, Lisa Dolan. Classes exposed every student to some kind of kindness literacy lesson by using such texts as Maya Angelou’s Amazing Peace, Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmans Story, by Cynthia Rylant, Simple Acts of Kindness by Ray Alonzo and Pay it Forward, by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The school learned that all the local food pantries were in desperate need of food and answered the call. A collaborative effort between Literacy Coach, Lisa Dolan, Student Council Advisor, Wayne Kinney, National Junior Honor Society Advisor, Lucy Rees, Principal, Ryan Groat and Director of Investments in Youth, Maria Suttmeier organized a school-wide food drive with the goal of "stuffing a school bus" with food for three local food pantries, Catholic Charities, Columbia Opportunities, and The Salvation Army. Large placards reading "Kindness Zone" reminded students to place their non-perishable food items under the kindness tree located in the lobby. Michael Johnston donated the services of one of his school buses to the project. Students and staff also raised money through a Pennies for Pantries drive which had teachers counting pennies most of the morning. A local not-for-profit organization called Investments in Youth agreed to match penny for penny for a total cash donation of $1,650 split between the three pantries.
