EDITORIAL: Kids are heroes, too
Dec. 18—It has only been a few weeks since we did our last editorial on the great things kids in the area are doing, but their good works continue to pile up.
The speech and debate and mock trial teams at Joplin High School are currently collecting food to replenish the food pantry on the campus for students in need.
Stapleton students are holding a food drive, too, and the class with the most food collected gets to tape Principal Kasey Pliler to the wall.
Fairview Elementary students in Carthage recently went to St. Luke's Nursing Center to sing Christmas carols and share homemade Christmas cards with the residents.
Students at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School have led multiple initiatives throughout November and December. Art students volunteered paint the windows of the Salvation Army of Jasper and Newton Counties with holiday murals. The design was by junior Lincoln Miller with the Salvation Army's theme for this year: "Love Beyond."
TJ's Early Childhood Division sponsored the annual mitten drive to collect mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, coats and boots to donate to Souls Harbor. The pre-K and kindergarten students collected 164 items of winter clothing.
The National Honor Society led a schoolwide canned food drive that rounded up 3,408 canned goods for the Salvation Army.
TJ's Upper School vocal ensemble went caroling at multiple venues this holiday season, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States and multiple long-term care homes.
As the TV pitchman Ron Popeil used to say: "But wait, there's more ..."
On Dec. 13, students from Neosho's RISE Elementary School donated dozens of pillowcases stuffed with toys "created from love and sealed with a hug" to Freeman Health System.
This is the sixth year the school's first grade students have participated in their pillowcase project.
"The idea is for my students to bring in donations of toys and other items and fill pillowcases for the boys and girls who are in the hospital to help brighten their day," Kacie Barratt, Neosho first grade teacher, said in a statement. "I want to turn a scary and stressful experience into something positive and happy. I also want to help ease the stress of the parents."
The project was created by Barratt and Freeman labor and delivery registered nurse April Willis.
"The children in pediatrics are typically scared and are away from comforting things such as toys, stuffed animals and games," Willis said.
Each pillowcase was stuffed with everything from crayons and coloring books to toy cars, games, puzzles, dolls, stuffed animals and more.
Well done, students, and thanks for the great example.
