Community Paper
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Princeton Elementary Students' Kids Care Club is Featured
Princeton KidsPrinceton Elementary School's Kids Care Club is featured as the "Club of the Month" for the national organization by the same name. You may read about the wonderful activities of Princeton's caring students at www.kidscare.org . You will learn of the growth of the after-school club from one parent's (Cynthia Keenan) idea to the involvement of some 70 children in meaningful community service projects. Cynthia Keenan said, "we get tons of support from our parents. Although I plan the meetings, we always have at least 4-5 more parents who come to the meetings to help out. I'd also like to offer my assistance to anyone else who is thinking of starting a club. This is an awesome organization!!!!!" For information contact Cynthia Keenan, Princeton Elementary Kids Care Club Coordinator, 407-894-7079, e-mail CKeenan@cfl.rr.com
Club Spotlight: Princeton Elementary School Kids Care Club When the anniversary of September 11th, came around, Cynthia Keenan knew she wanted to commemorate it by reaching out to her local fire and police departments. She was hoping to get 5 or 10 kids to help her bake goodies and make cards and a banner. When 50 kids turned out to help, she knew that she was on to something. Searching the web for ideas, she came across Kids Care Clubs (KCC). Cynthia says, "There was nothing on-line that compared to the site. The KCC project format is simple and everything is done for me.? She knew immediately that this was what she needed to start her service club. The spark she needed to give her the confidence to start the club has become a blazing light in the community. The Princeton Elementary School, located in downtown Orlando, has a very diverse group of kids, ranging from families of millionaires to families that are homeless. Cynthia is the only facilitator at this point. Sometimes, parents assist her. The last club meeting had 70 children. With a group that large, she practices the Kids Care Clubs'mission: the children must be kind, compassionate, and respectful of each other, or they will not be able to accomplish the project. Evidently the kids are listening and cooperating. Cynthia says. "It is most rewarding to see a club member notice another kid who is struggling with the project, and give him a helping hand." Celebrate Kids with Heart was the first Kids Care Project the club took on. She received a grant, thanks to KUDOSŪ, the sponsor of the Kids Care Week 2002 and the art-related service project. (The Crayola art supplies were also donated by KUDOSŪ) Below is Cynthia's account of the project. "Our meeting started with a quick introduction of Kids Care and what we are all about, and then an explanation of Celebrate Kids with HeART. I let them know that I had visited the pediatrics ward of Florida Hospital and that they are so excited about us wanting to help them. There are kids there who are so sick and contagious that they cannot leave their beds at all. I then did a watercolor demonstration and talked about ways art can help us deal with emotions. The kids then started their pictures with paint. While the paintings dried, I read "All I See" and gave the kids a snack. When the paintings were dry, we finished them by drawing with crayon. The children were so enthusiastic! Many didn't want to leave until they could bring home a permission slip for our next meeting. We all felt so good about what we accomplished, knowing that these sketch pads and our art cases filled with Crayola art supplies would bring a little joy to the sick children. We had 35 children take part in this project - I know our next meeting is sure to attract even more kids. The spirit of giving is growing strong!" Cynthia's prediction proved true. The next project, Kids Care Clubs Veteran's Day attracted more kids. They took "Uncle Sam" candy cups and filled them with Hugs and Kisses for Veterans. AT the December meeting, 70 children showed up. To have a hands-on meeting activity in addition to creating Holiday Hope Chests, Cynthia created a "Centered on Giving" event for the club to benefit Meals on Wheels and the nearby Assisted Living Center for seniors. Again, it was an opportunity for the members to show off their artistic talents. She set up six art stations which included, votive candle holders, thank you cards to surprise people who were special in their lives, cookie decorating, snowmen made of white bells, and pine cone ornaments. But, the most popular station was a table of red and green paper strips. These strips were to become part of a "giving" chain. The children were asked to write about a gift on the strip that they could give to someone without giving money. Cynthia thought this station would not attract many children. It proved to be just the opposite. The kids flocked to the table and the creative juices flowed. Cynthia displayed the chain in the school lobby, asking viewers the same question, "What gift can you give someone that doesn't cost any money?" Again, it engaged the viewers, both children and adults, and empowered those to give who had forgotten that giving does not always have a price tag. And then there were the Holiday Hope Chests. These 50 Hope Chests took on a life of their own! The first 22 chests went to the Salvation Army homeless shelter for working mothers. . Five chests were given to Children and Family Services for a foster family caring for 5 children. Their caseworker was turned down when he approached toy stores for donations. Six infant chests were given to BETA, a center for teenage mothers and their children. Cynthia knows for a fact, that these chests provided the only holiday gift for at least 30 children in her community. She stopped in the school office to ask if there were any students at the school that might need the remaining chests. They took some, but she also learned that there was a family in the community that could use the chests and more for Christmas. Cynthia got on the phone. The Holiday Hope Chests became an inspiration for the community to rally around the family in need. Within 24 hours hundreds of dollars were donated to accompany the gift of the chests to the family. To finance their projects, Cynthia sends home a notice, asking for donations; in-kind and cash. Cynthia says the response has been terrific. Parents tell her they want to help, but they want to know where their money is going. She says. "I can tell them I have been in the local shelter and have seen the two sets of bunk beds where a mother of 5 sleeps with her children, the same family that received some of our Holiday Hope Chests." Cynthia adds, "The parents feel confident that their money is going directly to the people who need it and not to administrative costs." To reward the parents for their support and others who and those who donated and helped out, Cynthia created a five-minute slide show of about 100 photos of the club in action from September to December and set it to music on her computer. She told them to sit back, relax and watch their kids in action! Her constant feedback to the kids and the school by posting pictures and displays on the bulletin boards immediately after the projects are a great encouragement for the kids and garner support for the club. The Princeton Elementary Kids Care Club has only been in existence for 3 months. It is not only helping others but it is transforming lives: Cynthia's, her club members' and those living in her community. The club is instilling a year-round spirit of compassion and giving at Princeton Elementary and in the families in the community. Kudos to Cynthia Keenan and the Princeton Elementary School Kids Care Club!
Kids Care Clubs, a program of the Points of Light Foundation, develops compassion and the spirit of service and philanthropy among our nation's youth. Clubs are located in communities throughout the country and provide young people an opportunity to make a difference through monthly service projects in their local and global communities. To learn more about Kids Care Clubs, call 203-656-8052 or visit www.kidscare.org.