"Being a club facilitator has opened my eyes to the many things that children are capable of doing and how productive they can be when given the chance.  I have witnessed children with such a strong desire to help others.  I know they are making our world a better place."

Kara Ray, Facilitator                                                                                                                                                                   Kids Care Club of Stokesdale Elementary
Stokesdale, North Carolina         

After reading an article in a parenting magazine that highlighted the benefits of Kids Care Clubs nationwide, three parents, Laura Kunkel, Kim Brame and Kara Ray met with 20 students to start the original Kids Care Club of Stokesdale Elementary as an afterschool program. 

The first six weeks for the club was busy. The children baked bread for Urban Ministries "Feast of Caring," cut and tied fleece blankets for project Linus, and celebrated Veterans Day at a local retirement community.  The enthusiasm and excitement was tremendous and the facilitators were touched by the empathy and caring of the Stokesdale students. They knew that they had to continue Kids Care Club at their school. 

The club has now grown to 70 members because of members like Joey, a third grade who says, "Kids Care Club makes me feel like a good person because I am helping people."  Joey has participated in the club since it's beginning and often will choose attending a Kids Care Club activity over other activities he is involved in.

Two more parent volunteers, Sandra Finnerty and Amanda Overmyer, have joined to help.  They plan to ask student leaders to assist the facilitators in the project planning process.  This will help expand the development of student leadership skills and encourage increased student ownership of the program.

The facilitators have put much thought into creating guidelines for Club participation and project implementation.

• Projects are hands-on and age appropriate so all children can actively participate.  The students should feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in what they do to contribute.
• An educational component is included at each meeting, so students can learn about the people and/or agency they are helping.  Small discussion groups, speakers, storybooks, and project focused games will foster knowledge about issues facing the community.
• Meetings take place both at school and off-site so, children without off-site transportation can still have the chance to participate. The off-site opportunities, where the children visit and experience first hand the people that they are helping are important.  Members visit places that they may not have known even exist in their community.
• A donation collection area is set up at meetings.  Students could bring in requested items for collections such as toiletries, baby onesies, "crazy looking" socks, canned good and kid's pajamas.
• Local businesses are encouraged and thanked for their support.  Over 25 businesses have worked with the club over the past two years.  Some of their generous donations include; ingredients for cooking projects, plants for beautification efforts, craft supplies and more.
• Parents and siblings are always invited to participate in the Kids Care Club events. Adequate supervision is provided by many faithful parent helpers, so that no child will ever be turned away from a Club event. 

Here are some Kids Care Club of Stokesdale Elementary project highlights: 

1.Veteran's Day Celebration at Countryside Village, a local retirement community - Students made patriotic cards and wreaths for the veterans to hang on the doors of residents.  Students also decorated cookes to bring to the celebration.  Before the visit, a parent volunteer came and talked to the children about his experience in the armed services and also discussed the needs of the elderly.  At Countryside Village, the students eagerly interacted with the residents, passed out gifts, snacks and shared life stories with the veterans.  Singing the Star Spangled Banner and other patriot songs together was a touching and memorable event.

2. Breadmaking for the Urban Ministries - Students prepared pumpkin, banana and zucchini bread for the "Feast of Caring, and annual event to benefit Urban Ministries.  The book "Fly Away Home" was used to discuss the issues of homelessness.

3.  The Good Samaritan Ministries local food pantry projects- The Club made ambrosia salad that was distributed to families coming to the food pantry.  Each student had a particular job to complete in the salad making process.  They also prepared one or two trail mix snack bags each for the food pantry with personalized Kids Care Club labels on them. In addition, the students also brought in canned good donations to the food pantry.

The Good Samaritan Ministries wrote to the Kids Care Club, "There is nothing that makes us feel better than caring for each other, especially those who need so much.  You are a great group of young people and you make us and your parents so proud!"

4.  Brenner's Childrens Hospital - Students made springtime doorway decoration to brighten the pediatric wing of the hospital.  Each piece of art had a cute joke attached to bring a smile to the children and their families.  In addition, students did a toiletry drive to assist families that arrive at the hospital unexpectedly and have no personal items with them.  The children donated "crazy looking, fun" socks, so the young patients could enjoy a "Sock Day".

"My favorite thing about Kids Care Club was collecting the fun socks to give to the kids in the hospital.  I think it made them very happy," said Alex, a fourth grade member. 

5.  Brighton Gardens Halloween Event - Club members wore costumes and brought treats to pass out to the residents at this assisted living facility.  It was a true party!  It began with a costume parade and a shared snack.  One elderly woman commented that this was the best Halloween ever in her life and she has never had so much fun on this holiday as she did with the Kids Care Club kids. 

6. Christmas Holiday Party at Countryside Retirement Village - Ornament crafts, snacks and holiday carol singing were shared together.  Countryside Village is located a few miles from the Stokesdale School, and the kids have been building a special relationship with the elderly residents there. 

7. Horsepower - a horse farm program for children with special needs and disabilities.  The kids were excited to visit the farm and helped clean the grounds.  Some students unloaded and moved hay bales.  The owner explained to the kids how the farm program helps people with disabilities and the kids, especially, loved meeting some of the horses and learning about their care.

8. Womens Hospital of Greensboro project - The Club made Children's Activity Packages filled with books, craft supplies, puppets and games to give to young siblings who are visiting family members at the hospital.  They also donated baby "onesies" to add to the hospital's "Baby Bundle" packages.

Ginger Penley, Director of Volunteer Services at the hospital wrote, "It was a pleasure to spend the afternoon with students so young and yet so focused on others!  Everyone pitched in without hesitation knowing they would make a positive impact on others."

9. Children's Home Society - Helping children in foster care.  The Kids Care Club of Stokesdale Elementary teamed up with Triad Lanes Bowling Alley to help children in foster care.  The club members held a Pajama Bowling Party and dressed in their own pajamas and also donated new pajamas to the Children's Home Society.

"I liked all the things we have done at Kids Care Club.  The club is great because it helps people and is fun," says Hannah, a 4th grade member.

Future projects for the club include; working with the local fire department, doing something special for patients undergoing treatments for cancer, and, possibly, doing a beautification project at their school.  It will be exciting to see what a difference the children of Stokesdale Elementary will make in the new school year ahead.

"I am so proud of our students at Stokesdale for their excitement, dedication and joy in helping others. Working with them has truly been a gift." says Kara.

Kids Care Clubs commends the facilitators of the Kids Care Club of Stokesdale Elementary School for their thoughtful planning and inclusion of everyone, including local businesses.  They have inspired their members and their school community to reach out and to build special relationships for ongoing projects for those in need.