At Hollow Hills Elementary in Simi Valley, California, U.S., 20 members of the K-Kids club interviewed Phill Johnson, their school custodian. Through this conversation, they identified a need and turned it into a meaningful service project, demonstrating how young leaders can make a direct impact.
During the interview, Johnson shared that an additional cart would not only help the custodians but also be useful for the Parent Teacher Association and other school staff. The students voted to launch “Operation Donation,” a fundraiser across 24 classrooms during the school’s Open House week. The K-Kids created digital and handmade flyers and distributed donation boxes, raising enough money to purchase the cart. In a special ceremony, the K-Kids presented the cart to Johnson in front of 200 students and staff. The money also allowed them to give a set of Harry Potter books to the school library.
The project earned the club an elementary school seal of civic engagement — and it inspired more students to join K-Kids! The club now has 65 members signed up for future service projects. Their efforts not only provided the staff with an essential tool but also developed valuable skills, including empathy, teamwork, interviewing, design and fundraising.