Photo: Contributed
Grade 4 students from Kelowna’s North Glenmore Elementary School have been hard at work making the city a better place, thanks to a $100 donation from Interior Savings Credit Union.
Last year the credit union offered up $100 grants to anyone who thought they could make a difference in the community.
Interior Savings says its $10,000 Local Give project was a big success, spawning initiatives like the ones undertaken by Teacher Heather Letkeman.
Letkeman used the program as an opportunity to encourage empathy and community involvement in her Grade 4 students.
She and two other Grade 4 teachers asked their students to brainstorm ideas on how they could make a positive impact in the community.
In Dragon’s Den style, the students pitched their ideas to their class, and collectively chose three initiatives they were going to complete.
One group baked and packaged cookies and handed them out on a walking field trip throughout the North Glenmore neighbourhood. The students raked and bagged leaves and then left packages of cookies with notes on residents’ doorsteps.
The second group worked together to decide on which items from the SPCA wish list they would purchase and delivered them to the local SPCA.
Not only did they get to give back to this non-profit but had an opportunity to talk with some of the SPCA volunteers about what they do and why, learn about volunteer opportunities they could sign up for and of course, get a sneak peek at some of the animals.
And last but not least, the third group of students descended on Kelowna’s Stuart Park to hand out coffee, scarves, gloves and toques to those they felt were in need of some kindness.
“The feedback was phenomenal. People from all walks of life were grateful and numerous times we were thanked for making someone’s day,” Letkeman said.
Although the class had committed to three acts of local good, the experience sparked a bigger idea. The students were so inspired that they decided to create monthly secret kindness missions around their local neighbourhood and for the students and teachers in their school.
“We are so grateful for your $100,” Letkeman said. “It gave us an opportunity to spread kindness and teach the students about giving back.”
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