Brandon Twp.-Alongside their lessons in math, science and social studies this month, some students in the district are learning a more basic concept, but perhaps even more essential to their education? how to be nice and show compassion.
At Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School, December has been designated as Random Acts of Kindness Month.
‘They are really excited about it and understanding that it feels good to help someone else,? said Principal Carol Bogner. ‘Teachers have done things with their individual classes before, but we’ve never had a concerted effort and called it RAK Month.?
The fourth, fifth, and sixth grades all had mini-assemblies in which faculty explained how a random act of kindness is something nice done for someone else that is unexpected and it may also be something that is never acknowledged, but the person doing the kindness can feel good knowing what they did.
On Monday the entire student body participated in packing ‘buddy boxes? to be packed in ‘Miracles boxes? and sent to military members serving overseas. Louise Downs, present at the packing party, founded the Desert Angels, a non-profit organization following the Sept. 11 tragedy in 2001. Since then, she and supporters have filled thousands of boxes with items for troops serving overseas. The packages are now known as ‘Miracle Boxes,? named in honor of PFC Joseph Miracle, a Brandon High School graduate killed in battle in Afghanistan on July 5, 2007.
Desert Angels hold packing parties every month, at various locations. The organization relies solely on donations, both of items and money for mailing costs.
Students and their families donated items for the boxes they packed Dec. 8, including granola bars, beef jerky, candy, and various toiletry items. They also wrote letters and drew pictures to include with the boxes. In all, they stuffed 171 ‘buddy boxes,? which military members who receive the Miracle boxes can give to a friend to further spread kindness. The boxes will be shipped this week.
‘We all know someone who has served or is serving, and they might not be with us at the holidays, but we want to spread holiday cheer,? said Bogner.
While the packing party was the big activity for the RAK Month, random acts of kindness will continue in individual classrooms, with various activities planned including a sixth grade class who will begin writing pen pal letters to ten soldiers who are stationed in Alaska after recently returning from a deployment to Afghanistan and fifth grade classes which are making no-sew blankets for the Ortonville Community Emergency fund and bookmarks for the school library as well as the township library.