In Pryor, February is recognized as Kindness Month. This year, under the guidance of Pryor school counselors Jill Sherman and Phyllis Hess, students from Jefferson Elementary partnered with the Pryor High School Rotary Interact Club to extend kindness beyond their classrooms.
During the first two weeks of February, students at both schools collected body wash and lotion to benefit residents at Colonial Terrace Care Center, Shady Rest Care Center, Avondale Cottage Assisted Living, and Heartland Suites Residential Assisted Living. Donation boxes were placed throughout the schools, and students contributed items to support the project.
By mid-month, the effort resulted in 88 residents receiving Valentine gift bags filled with candies, lotion, and soap. Each bag was labeled with the resident’s name. Jefferson Elementary students also created handmade Valentine cards, adding drawings and messages to include with each gift.
On Thursday, February 13, Rotary Interact students worked alongside local Rotary members to sort, package, and prepare the donations. Students organized supplies, checked names, and placed the cards into each bag.
Later that day, the group delivered the gift bags to each care center. The project provided residents with practical items and a reminder that they were being thought of by students in their community.
Through this partnership, Jefferson Elementary students and the Pryor High School Rotary Interact Club demonstrated how a service project can make a positive impact through simple, thoughtful giving.