October 28, 2024 -- East Dover Elementary School students participated in a week-long program dedicated to creating a culture of kindness and compassion in their community.

The Kindness Challenge ran from Monday, September 23rd through September 27th. During this challenge, students were asked to “practice kindness” and put their compassion into action and complete as many acts of kindness as possible throughout the week.

“The Kindness Challenge provided a wonderful opportunity for all of the East Dover students, teachers, families, and community to build a culture of compassion, acceptance, unity and respect," said Principal Matthew Gray. "Our kids really showed up and made a statement that being kind can really make a difference!” 

The week also incorporated a spirit week to build on the GRRREAT actions that were occurring at East Dover. During the week, a service project was also launched. The students from East Dover were asked to help “knock down hunger.” The project had students collect cereal boxes for the local food bank and Pop the Trunk.

Once all the boxes were collected, they were lined up throughout the school and Eddie the Bear began the domino effect.  Almost all of the 500 boxes were knocked down, which can be seen in the video below.

Project organizer Michelle Gullace said, “This was a great opportunity for students to expand their compassion, work towards a common goal, and become active citizens in their community." She continued, "We loved seeing the East Dover Bears community come together to knock down hunger.”

"The almost 500 boxes of cereal collected by East Dover Elementary School was such an amazing addition to our Pop the Trunk food distribution, and not 1 box was left behind," said Dana Tormollan, a community volunteer from Pop the Trunk, which partners with Fulfill Food Bank to organize the collections.  She concluded, "From all of us to the families, faculty, and staff of East Dover...THANK YOU for thinking of us and the families we are lucky enough to help every week!"