Kindergarteners at Plato Elementary School are learning very early what it means to be kind to others, and they are spreading kindness all over the community, including the patients at Texas County Memorial Hospital.
Plato’s two kindergarten classes – taught by Amy Hathaway and Heather Copley – participate in a project called “Kindness Konnection” launched by Hathaway last school year. This year, the school’s second kindergarten class joined in on the project.
Each morning, the students have time set aside for coloring pictures and writing cards for individual citizens, nursing homes and patients at TCMH. Recipients are referred to as “friends.”
Hathaway said the students send out about 120 cards each month.
“And that doesn’t include the pictures they color that we mail out into the community,” she said. “Our list of card and picture recipients continues to grow.”
The students take walks and hand-deliver many of their cards to “friends” who live near the school. They’re usually able to take walks about three times per week.
In 2016, Hathaway received a grant that provided funds to pay for postage to mail the cards and pictures each month to friends not within walking distance of the school (some of whom live in numerous states). The school did not receive grant funds this year.
“The grant dollars were instrumental in helping us keep our costs down, but we were not allowed to apply two years in a row,” Hathaway said. “We do plan on reapplying again next year.”
Wes Murray, TCMH chief executive officer, and Rachel Davis, TCMH director of public relations, marketing and physician recruiting, had the opportunity to recognize the work done by Plato’s kindergarten students.
“TCMH appreciates the good work that these young citizens are doing everyday by spreading kindness throughout our community,” Murray said.
Murray told the students what they are learning now at such a young age is a stepping stone that they can grow from for the rest of their lives.
“Visiting the class and taking a snack is just a little way to show our gratitude to them,” he said.
Murray and Davis shared milk and freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies with the kids.
“We are so grateful for the pictures that you color for our patients,” Davis told them. “When our patients are staying in the hospital, they don’t feel well and your pictures bring a smile to their face.”
There were 42 students present for the visit from the TCMH officials.
The Plato kindergarten classes will host their second annual “Kindness Konnection Tea” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 20 in the Plato Schools old gym.