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B.C. elementary students hand out $1,400 in free goodies to strangers as part of kindness project

Students in Chilliwack gave out flowers, chocolates, dog treats and bought coffee for complete strangers
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Harlow Montroy (black sweatshirt) and Summer Hamper (turquoise coat) from Watson Elementary buy coffee for two strangers at Vedder Park during Watson Elementary香蕉视频直播檚 Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15. For more photos, go to theprogress.com/community (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

香蕉视频直播淐an I buy you a coffee?香蕉视频直播

香蕉视频直播淲ould you like some flowers?香蕉视频直播

Those are not the words one would expect to hear from a Grade 3 student as they look up at a stranger, but they were said over and over again in Chilliwack on Wednesday.

Watson Elementary香蕉视频直播檚 2023 Kindness Project warmed hearts throughout Chilliwack on March 15 as kids handed out free items to complete strangers.

香蕉视频直播淭his is the first time they香蕉视频直播檝e been so outgoing. They were really quick to jump in and want to do it,香蕉视频直播 said Grade 3 teacher Jen Thiessen. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e just been so positive about all of it.香蕉视频直播

Rowan Sloan hands a woman a bunch of flowers at Vedder Park during Watson Elementary聮s Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Rowan Sloan hands a woman a bunch of flowers at Vedder Park during Watson Elementary香蕉视频直播檚 Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

The project first started back in 2017 when Thiessen and fellow teacher Kyla Stradling came up with the idea.

香蕉视频直播淭he idea with the project, when we first started it, was being that spark of kindness and it would make that wave of people who want to continue doing it,香蕉视频直播 Thiessen said.

Over the years, either one or two Grade 3 classes from Watson would take it on. But, this year five classes took part (all the Grade 3 students, plus some kids in Grades 2 and 4), making it the biggest one to date.

The kids raise money to buy items, and then give the items away to others. This year, they raised an impressive $1,400 from five cupcake sales over five weeks in February and March.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of cupcakes, and all the cupcakes were made by parents and staff,香蕉视频直播 Thiessen said.

After the cupcake sales, the kids and teachers got to work making cards and buying things to hand out on the big day.

Flowers, dog treats, miniature chocolate bars and more were passed from their little hands to people they had just met at Vedder Park and Peach Park.

One student brought her own basket to carry goodies for Watson Elementary聮s Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
One student brought her own basket to carry goodies for Watson Elementary香蕉视频直播檚 Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Groups of kids were buying coffee at four locations: Amble Coffee in Vedder Park, Mylk and Honey coffee truck at Peach Park, Waves Coffee House in Garrison Village and Starbucks at Keith Wilson and Vedder roads.

Other kids were at Watson Elementary putting together 48 care packages for homeless people, which will later be delivered to Cyrus Centre, and assembling baskets of treats for fellow teachers at Tyson Elementary, plus staff at their own school.

香蕉视频直播淭he kids have wonderful ideas. The homeless packages came from their ideas香蕉视频直播 and the teacher appreciation basket was on their list,香蕉视频直播 Thiessen said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been telling (the kids) how it香蕉视频直播檚 my favourite day of the year.香蕉视频直播

Kids from Watson Elementary prepare to buy a stranger a coffee as teacher Jen Thiessen (red sweatshirt) smiles at Vedder Park during Watson Elementary聮s Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Kids from Watson Elementary prepare to buy a stranger a coffee as teacher Jen Thiessen (red sweatshirt) smiles at Vedder Park during Watson Elementary香蕉视频直播檚 Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Jade Pennock gives a dog a treat near Vedder Park during Watson Elementary聮s Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Jade Pennock gives a dog a treat near Vedder Park during Watson Elementary香蕉视频直播檚 Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

She said that people are still reluctant to take things for free from a child, and many will initially say 香蕉视频直播渘o香蕉视频直播 or ask if a donation of money is required. When the recipient realizes it香蕉视频直播檚 an act of kindness, a big smile sweeps across their face.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 nice to be that presence,香蕉视频直播 Thiessen said.

Each of the goodies given out that day came with a hand-decorated card featuring a quote on one side, penned by Kevin Heath: 香蕉视频直播淣o act of kindness is too small. The gift of kindness may start as a small ripple that over time can turn into a tidal wave affecting the lives of many.香蕉视频直播

And it worked.

香蕉视频直播淜indness coffee is always the best,香蕉视频直播 one woman said, adding that she was going to buy someone else a cup of coffee.

Not 10 minutes later, a man came up to Thiessen and handed her a $20 bill.

香蕉视频直播淭his is for next year香蕉视频直播檚 project,香蕉视频直播 he said.

The kids at Watson might not see it firsthand, but their wave of kindness definitely got bigger that day.

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Kids from Watson Elementary prepare to buy a stranger a coffee at Vedder Park during Watson Elementary聮s Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Kids from Watson Elementary prepare to buy a stranger a coffee at Vedder Park during Watson Elementary香蕉视频直播檚 Kindness Project on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)


 

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Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
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