This article was written by BenitoLink intern Jessica Parga. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Once a month after school, about 100 students gather at Spring Grove Elementary. They range from TK to 8th grade and their goal is simple: Spread kindness. They have collected donations for the homeless, created placemats for patients in the hospital and, this March, potted flowers to give to a community member of their choosing.
This year marks a decade since The Glorious Kindness Club’s beginning. Julie Neff, the founder of the organization, has been running meetings with the help of 4th Grade teachers Renee Kakebeen and Carrie Betancourt since 2015. Neff started the group when she saw kids trying to navigate problems with friendships and the social struggles of growing up.
“I watched a lot of heartbreak,” Neff said. “Either I was going to just get jaded or… try to make a difference.”
At the first meeting, 35 students showed up to help bring together playground equipment after Calaveras Elementary Schools’ playground was destroyed by arson. Now, 80 to 100 TK-3rd graders and roughly 20 4th-8th graders attend two back-to-back monthly meetings.
Neff has also helped fellow educators set up their own clubs. Through Whole Brain Teaching, an education reform group, Neff acts as the Glorious Kindness Academy Coordinator, even helping educators internationally.
She has held workshops for locals, sharing her ideas of explicitly teaching and modeling kindness for kids. Kindness clubs have popped up in San Benito County at locations including Rancho Santana School and the Bulldogs Care Club at Southside Elementary.
Neff sees these little acts of kindness as ripples that travel through the community, affecting countless lives.
“I want them to know their acts change the world,” Neff said. “That’s what they’re doing. We might think that we’re just one person, but all it takes is one person.”
This month, Spring Grove students were tasked with potting a flower and creating a card with kind words. The only rule was that they could not give the flower to their parents. It had to be someone in their community like a coach, neighbor, or local barista.
Siblings Sophia Jo Renz and Brody Renz decided to give their cards and flowers to their dad’s coworkers, who are Hollister firefighters. Both men said it felt nice to be recognized and appreciated.
“You kind of take it (kindness) for granted on a day-to-day basis,” said Captain Michael Dariano. “But when you see it at the youth level it’s inspiring.”
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour, United Way, Taylor Farms and the Emma Bowen Foundation.
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