Helping the environment is one of many causes K-Kids clubs address through service. Missouri Valley Elementary K-Kids in Missouri Valley, Iowa, U.S., did their share last year with two service projects: recycling plastic bags and organizing an Earth Day cleanup.
By recycling 1,000 pounds of plastic bags, the 23 K-Kids earned a “buddy bench” for their school, where it’s located in the hallway outside the main office. Students can use the bench for quiet time or when they need a break. The bench also encourages fellow students to sit with their peers to make sure they are OK.
A bench donated by the Builders Club to Missouri Valley Middle School is currently being used in the family therapy room at that school. It’s a source of pride for the students, who often ask, “Can we see the bench?”
“My evil plan is to grow good humans from the ground up, and it’s working,” jokes Minnie Fisher, advisor to the K-Kids and the Builders Club. “You see their little smiles, how proud they are, and it makes your heart explode.”
With recycling bins, gardening crews and library helpers, the students of Missouri Valley Elementary and Middle School embody hands-on community service. Their next milestone was celebrated on February 1, with a dedication involving students, faculty advisors and the middle school principal.
“We teach them to take care of the Earth because it’s our home,” Fisher says.
These efforts prove that when kids take action, they make a meaningful difference — and inspire pride that lasts a lifetime