Campbell River first responders started receiving heartwarming messages of support and thanks from local students on March 8.
The messages, which were received from several School District 72 schools contained personal messages of thanks from the students to local responder.
“Honestly,” said RCMP Const. Maury Tyre, “it’s the small things like this that make a big difference to officers on a day-to-day basis. For the most part, police are only dealing with people when something negative is going on and at times that can definitely drag on the soul. Messages from kids and any community member for that matter definitely have the ability to lift the spirits of our officers. So thank you to everyone who took part in this. “
For all the students and young people in the community it’s so important that you know, serving you is our greatest responsibility and honour, Const. Tyre said.
Six hundred messages were sent to police, firefighters, paramedics, doctors and nurses as part of the “Kindness Initiative,” said Kelsey Creviston, Grade 6/7 teacher at Southgate Middle School who, in conjuction with Karen Lutz, were the two people behind the effort.
Shout out to all the kids @CRSD72 for the personal handwritten thank you letters to all our staff at Campbell River Fire Department. Its moments like these that are so uplifting and keep us going. Thank you!! @BCFireChiefs @BC_FireSafety @IAFF1668 pic.twitter.com/nWZKbxQj3O
— Campbell River Fire (@RiverCityFire) March 9, 2021
With recent events in our community, the duo was compelled to come together as parents and colleagues to try to find a way to bring some brightness out of a dark and challenging time in our community. The idea of creating a way to spread simple acts of kindness enticed them to develop The Kindness Initiative for the Campbell River School District.
Being School District 72 employees, theycame up with the idea to have students write thank-you letters and cards to first responders and felt like it was the perfect way to help connect youth to the many healthy adults in the community.
“We hope that these acts of kindness will facilitate positive connections, talk, build empathy, and to simply put a smile on someone’s face,” Lutz and Creviston said ina written description of their intitiative.
“As we started our journey with our first kindness initiative, we were blown away by the enthusiasm from the students and the thoughtfulness of their words and ideas. We were able to collaborate with Sandowne Elementary, Georgia Park Elementary, Penfield Elementary, Robron Centre, Southgate Middle School, and Ecole Phoenix Middle School. Letters and cards kept pouring in and we now have close to 600 personal letters that will be delivered to our local police officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, search and rescue, nurses, and doctors. Our hearts are extremely full, and we are beyond thankful for the efforts from our students and teachers who participated in our passion project.”
If you wish to report a crime, please call the Campbell River RCMP at 250-286-6221. In an emergency please call 911.
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