209 Center Street
Chardon, OH 44024
Phone: 440-285-2261
info@geaugahungertaskforce.org
The Chardon Local School District’s Maple School was buzzing
with excitement during March over their Kindness Project. Led by
Kindergarten teacher Chloe Ellis, the 8 classes of “Tiny
Toppers” – comprising Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
students - collected boxes of cereal to donate to food pantries in
Chardon and Burton. Their goal was 200 boxes by March 25. They
actually received almost 500!
As an outgrowth from the school’s motto for the year -
“Be safe. Be kind. Do your best”- the children are
learning to care about their neighbors, especially those who are
food insecure. An added incentive to contribute came from the
lunchroom supervisor Miss Libby Savel, who has promised that if the
children reach their goal, they will be allowed to toss water
balloons at her outside. When the drive ended, the teachers lined
up the boxes like dominoes and let the students cheer as they watch
the boxes fall on to the next box all along the school
sidewalk.
If it is true that everything we need to know, we learned in
kindergarten, then these lucky students have taken a giant step in
understanding and caring for their friends and neighbors.