The Royle School Kids Care Club worked throughout the school year to make a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children around the world--as well as those close to home.

The Kids Care Club is a Darien based national organization with over 800 registered clubs in all 50 states whose mission is to develop compassion and the spirit of charity in children through hands-on service projects that benefit the needy in their local and global community.

In October, the Royle Kids Care Club kicked off the year by teaming up with the student council for a school-wide celebration of caring.

First the club made red, white, and blue spirit bracelets for the entire staff and student body. Next, they prepared red, white, and blue links for a school-wide caring chain to demonstrate the power of working together.

Students and staff wrote or drew a picture on their personal link of something they could do individually to help someone. With everyone wearing a spirit bracelet, the entire school gathered to join links and to demonstrate the power of numbers. In the center of the caring chain, three fifth graders held a large see-through plastic bag into which each class deposited the dollars collected for children in Afghanistan.

Last November, the third, fourth and fifth graders planted red, white, and blue, tulip bulbs in the school's Memorial Garden. The kindergartners and first and second graders made lollipop flower gifts for all of the important people in the Royle School community who don't get thanked enough for all that they do for the school--including cafeteria and maintenance staff, bus drivers, crossing guards and teacher's aides.

Last December, Kids Care Club members and their families made holiday gift boxes for children in need. Approximately 100 boxes containing wonderful gifts were distributed to children in the New Haven elementary school system.

In January, the Kids Care Club focused its efforts on feeding the homeless. A representative from one of the local shelters talked with the kids about homeless shelters and how important this service is which helps the lives of so many. With enthusiasm and youthful energy the kids made 150 sandwiches and put them in brown paper bags along with juice, cookies, and apples. These meal bags went to homeless shelters in Norwalk and Stamford. Many thanks to Palmer's and Trader Joes for their food donations.

In February, the Kids Care Club theme was giving the gift of reading. The club ran a book drive and gathered enough books to cover eight cafeteria tables. The kids helped sort and organize the books into mini libraries. The books were donated to a New Haven elementary school.

In March, the club made friendship bags consisting of journals, markers, flashlights, and snacks for the Kids in Crisis Center in Greenwich, which helps children who are struggling with family conflict, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment or homelessness.

The April event was a Jog-a-thon. The kids really pushed themselves this year and raised more than $1,200 for World Vision, a national organization that helps support hungry and needy children around the world. The kids earmarked the money for the purchase of 11 dairy goats; tuition to send eight children to school for a year; vaccinations for six children for a year; the purchase of 40 fruit trees for four families, and the purchase of 14 chickens for one family.

The final Kids Care Club activity was providing back-to-school backpacks for underprivileged children. With funds raised last year and from a bake sale, the club purchased 38 backpacks and filled them with school supplies. The backpacks were donated to an elementary school in Bridgeport.

Thanks to a corporate grant offered to Kids Care, the Royle School Kids Care Club has been asked to help start up Kids Care clubs for inner city schools.

This fall, Royle School plans to collaborate with the Roosevelt Elementary School in Bridgeport for a joint project.