Mission of Kindness Spreads from School to the Community

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Immaculate Conception School had a mission this school year, a mission of kindness.  What started as simple activities in the classroom soon spread throughout the community when the school began to sell Be Kind yard signs in January.

With almost 500 of the bright blue and white yard signs sold, it is not hard to see them as you drive the streets of Clarksville.  The profit from the yard signs allowed the school to present checks of $500 to five community organizations who will use the donation to continue to spread kindness.

“Along with all of the schools in the Diocese of Nashville, a kindness campaign was started to reinforce kindness in the classroom and school,” said Stephanie Stafford, the principal of ICS.  “But we wanted the students to see that kindness must continue to spread to our homes and community and that any one of us can make that difference.”

The opportunity presented itself when Karla Wagner, the school’s administrative assistant, brought back a Be Kind sign from her visits over the holidays to Owensboro, Ky.  With fellow staff Amy Sturm and Josie Burns, the team worked on designing the sign and choosing a purpose for the profit from the signs.  Ultimately it was decided to spread it among five local organizations who are sharing kindness and support to others.

The organizations included Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, The Food Initiative, Tender Paws Animal Therapy of Clarksville, SAFE: Soldiers and Families Embraced, and Clarksville Urban Ministries’ Safe Place.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 15, the students of Immaculate Conception School gathered to present the donations to representatives of the five organizations.  The students learned about each organization and how their donation would help others.  Students and representatives were pleased to learn that the donation of $500 to each organization exceeded the original goal of $300.

Immaculate Conception School still has a few signs left.  You can purchase them at the school at 1901 Madison St. for $10.