Reading with Heart: Middle Schoolers Sharing Kindness Through Literacy
Help me give my students books to promote literacy and kindness to elementary students.
$493 goal
This project expired on August 13, 2025.
This project expired on August 13, 2025.
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Project
Our middle schoolers are eager to make a difference. Many are exploring what it means to be role models and positive leaders in their community. This project gives them a chance to offer community service and lead with kindness, practice communication skills, and build meaningful connections with younger students.
The elementary students we’ll visit come from similar backgrounds, and we know that receiving a book from “the big kids” will be an inspiring and empowering moment for them.
Our students are learning that leadership isn't just about speaking up—it's about lifting others. In this literacy-based community service project, our middle schoolers will visit neighboring elementary school classrooms to read What Does It Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio, a beautifully written and illustrated book that teaches young children about compassion and empathy.
After sharing the story, our students will engage with the younger kids through a brief kindness-themed activity and then gift each child a copy of the book to take home. This creates a powerful ripple effect: older students practice public speaking and community engagement, while younger students receive a story and message they can carry with them.
This project promotes literacy, leadership, and social-emotional learning for both age groups. Your support helps us put meaningful books in little hands—and big hearts in action.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
650 students impacted
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