When asked what he liked to do best, fourth-grader, Cole Laymen, from Lowry Elementary School replied, “I like being kind to people.” Cole’s enthusiasm for kindness seems to be contagious as more and more students involve themselves in the many activities of the Lowry Elementary Aftercare Program PAWS FOR PEACE Kids Care Club. The Club, named after the school’s leopard mascot, continues to grow and now has over 125 members!

This spring Tampa’s mayor, Pam Iorio, proclaimed March 28th, 2008 as Lowry Kids Care Wellness Fair Day. This followed the success of the Wellness Fair held on that date by the Paws for Peace Kids Care Club. The Club received a Kid Care Clubs Eat Wise - Exercise! grant which supported their fitness fair. The fair featured healthy food and fitness stations and a smoothie stand, all planned, run and celebrated by Paws for Peace members, community partners like the YMCA, and many others in celebration of National Nutrition Month.

Paws for Peace Kids Care Club’s first project began last summer with “rummage for the rescue”. Keeping their mascot in mind, Paws for Peace adopted a leopard named CHEETARO and raised $1,310 for the Big Cat Rescue. Jillian Delucca, a 5th grade member says, "I love the big cats. They are so beautiful and innocent. It is so sad that they have been mistreated. They deserve to be in the wild, but since they can't I am glad that we can help take care of them and they have somewhere beautiful to live where people care about them." The Big Cat Rescue is one of the Club’s favorite projects.

In October, Paws for Peace held a Halloween “BOO”k Bash. Club members dressed up as literary characters and read their favorite books to a group of seniors. They used the Kids Care Week 2007 Bringing Good Moments Grant to purchase food, party supplies and crafts to entertain the seniors. They distributed Bringing Good Moments Good-Eat Bags complete with Quaker Chewy Bars. A highlight of the party was a sing-a-long with the seniors. “It was really fun reading to the seniors. The crafts were fun, too. I hope we get to do it again next year!” Austin, Grade Four

In February, Club members participated in Walk Now For Autism at the Museum of Science and Industry. In April, Paws for Peace is adopting a spot and will participate in the Great American Clean-up. As new projects are tackled by this active group 4th-grader Paige Lindbak says, “We help the world!”

The members have crafted “KINDNESS” Books for reflection and to spread good deeds across the community. Sandra Layman, a special-needs teacher, and facilitator of Paws for Peace Kids Care Club says, “I get as much out of watching the students as they do participating in the projects. It inspires you.”

Kids Care Clubs commends the Paws for Peace KCC for caring about the health of their community members and the wellbeing of animals in the wild.

Kids Care Clubs is pleased to be joined by Quaker in providing special recognition for the Club of the Month. Members of the Gaston County 4-H Explorers Kids Care Club will receive a special gift directly from Quaker to share with their families and friends.