ANDY BELL-BALTACI | DAILY JOURNAL
Sitting in a circle at the Creekside Elementary School gym, third- and fourth-grade students got a lesson in empathy and love.
They stuffed Ziploc bags with toiletries, hygiene items, snacks and cards that contain handwritten messages from students, such as “thinking about you,” “I care about you” and “hope things get better.”
The Franklin school is in its fifth year of the Blessing Bag program, said Alysha Sherry, the school’s physical education teacher who thought up the initiative.
The more than 600 bags, packed throughout this week by students at each grade level, will go to Johnson County residents who are less struggling with homelessness or domestic abuse. The bags will be distributed by local groups such as KIC-IT, ASSIST Indiana and Interchurch Food Pantry, Sherry said.
“The goal was to reinforce our counseling lessons focused on empathy. This is an activity we could do that could show kids empathy for others and how to help others in our local community who are in need,” she said. “We gather over 600 of every item. Kids bring in donations, sometimes companies bring in money, but for the most part, it’s our students.”
The program allows students to have a direct, positive impact on their community, fourth grader Addison Poshears said.
“I know that people who don’t have homes, we’re helping them out by giving them these bags with toothbrushes and toothpaste,” she said.
Fourth grader Madi Sherry shared a similar sentiment.
“We are helping abused women and homeless people,” she said. “I enjoy helping out people that need things. It’s nice and it makes the world a better place.”
Sometimes, the blessing bags end up in the hands of students in Franklin schools, whose families might be experiencing financial hardships, Alysha Sherry said.
“I do think kids recognize when others are in need, but the most difficult part is when you have a fellow classmate who could receive a Blessing Bag,” she said. “We talk about it and teach kids kindness and empathy, because they can be a friend to that person and be accepting to that person and know it’s their duty as humans to help others. Any time we can spread kindness and show some love, I’m happy.”
