Letter to the editor: Kindness keeps us connected

Whenever my family visits our relatives, we drive past people in need who live under the overpasses on the North Shore.

Living outside must be scary and lonely. I felt so bad when I thought about what their lives must be like, and I wanted to try to do something that would help them feel better.

I asked my parents if I could make care packages of things that people living outside would need, like ChapStick, deodorant and other things to help them take better care of themselves, and give it to them, and they said yes.

To raise the money to pay for it, I sold drinks at lemonade and Kool-Aid stands with my friends. I also made and sold rainbow loom bracelets, which can be made in any size and style, and they’re stretchy so they can fit anybody. I also accepted donations from family and friends who knew what I wanted to do.

With the help of my cousins, when I was able to get everything that I needed to make the packages, I also made a card for each one that says things like “Focus on the Good” and “Help Is All Around.” I want people to know that, even if they are lonely, they don’t have to be alone. Just like my parents helped me put those packages together, I know that we all need help, and that no one can do the things they want to do all by themselves.

Being kind to people doesn’t have to be hard. It can be as simple as helping around the house, putting the dishes away or being nice to a friend when they’re having a bad day. The important thing to remember is that every little kind thing we do really does add up, even when we can’t see it.

When we first moved to our neighborhood, I was still learning how to ride my bike. One day, I fell and I hurt my knee pretty badly. One of my friends saw me and came to help me up and walk me home. She probably didn’t know how much her kindness meant to me that day, but it’s something I’ll never forget. Falling off my bike hurt, but it made me feel so happy to know that someone else cared enough to help.

Now we are planning to do even more kind things during 21 Days of Kindness Sept. 1-21.

Kindness is caring about other people and helping them do the things they can’t do on their own. If everyone was kinder to the people around them, we would all be happier. We would also feel less lonely, because we all will know that help is all around.

Will you join us in spreading kindness in our schools and our neighborhoods?

Ava Kostewicz

Ohio Township

The writer is a third grader in the Avonworth School District.