Small Smiles Club members recently sold bracelets to raise money for the Wheeler Mission.
Submitted photo
FORTVILLE – Spreading joy through simple acts of kindness is the goal of a club at Mt. Vernon High School that formed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The Small Smiles Club has continued to brighten the daily school experience of students and staff ever since, the district reports.
“Small Smiles encourages students to spread kindness throughout high school,” said Karen Riesterer, club sponsor and teacher, in a press release. “It gives students an opportunity to be creative and know that others are rooting for them.”
The club was created by junior Abbey Maple with the purpose of performing small acts of kindness that positively impact people’s lives.
The group of over 20 students strives to involve the entire student body in their projects.
They have hosted a tailgate event and a student scavenger hunt; provided teacher appreciation gifts and staff thank you cards; and have raised money for local charities.
“The club has given me personally more than several chances to get to know students and staff than I would have had without it,” Maple said. “I know it does the same for others!”
One project that the club does every year is the Gratitude Wall. In this project, the club collects responses from students and staff on what they are thankful for. This school year, responses were written on colorful paper for a festive, hand turkey fall theme and hung on the Gratitude Wall at the school.
Another project that Maple says was very successful was dedicated to the teachers. For this gratitude project, Small Smiles assembled over 100 gift bags consisting of hand-decorated succulents and “Thank You” tags for each teacher at MVHS. She says this project accomplished the club’s goals when MVHS teachers expressed their appreciation.
Most recently, Small Smiles hosted a project where they were able to donate over $100 to the Wheeler Mission, a local organization that helps those without a home, and people in need. The club sold bracelets that read “Make someone smile today” and “Small Smiles MVHS” at lunch for $1 each, and all proceeds were donated to the Wheeler Mission.They also hosted a drive where they collected nonperishable items to donate to the cause. Club members say it was a huge success and they feel grateful for the opportunity to help out in their community.
While a global pandemic may have started it all, there’s no end in sight for the Small Smiles Club, the district reports. In the future, the club plans to do even more projects that will deliver a positive feeling in their school: making a difference, one act of kindness at a time.
