Bobcean Elementary students perform more than 4,000 acts of kindness

FLAT ROCK — Bobcean Elementary School students have performed 4,094 acts of kindness and raised $43,000 in just three years.

In 2021, the school signed up with Raise Craze, an online fundraising platform that emphasizes action. Instead of selling products to raise money for their school, students set up their own fundraising pages and then set about doing kind things.

"Students ask friends and families to donate money, which is done on the Raise Craze website. Students then pay (family and friends') acts of kindness forward by completing acts of kindness," said Chevelle Bedra, president of the Bobcean Elementary Family School Association.

Bedra said the school wanted to do something different after the pandemic.

"The parent group wanted to do a fundraiser that was inclusive and worked to build community," Bedra said. "We wanted all students to have the opportunity to participate and be a part of doing good for the community, regardless of their ability to raise funds. The board at the time brought it to Mrs. Steffen, the principal, who was completely aligned."

Since 2021, Bobcean students have performed many kind acts, like sending cards to veterans and first responders, cleaning up public spaces and cheering up nursing home residents.

"We had 56 students send a letter or card to a family member that lives far away; 74 students donated clothes, book or toys; 38 students made a card or note for a school staff member saying thanks," Bedra said.

Many of the students come up their own project ideas.

"There is a list of acts of kindness that students can use, but many students choose to come up with their own," Bedra said. "Some of the acts of kindness that students completed on their own include baking cookies for family members, helping a neighbor rake leaves, picking up trash at the bus stop, making books for fellow students to help with their reading, calling a veteran on Veterans Day and making a get well card for a fellow student."

The fundraiser has brought $43,000 to the school so far.

“These funds have contributed to an array of projects, including the recent addition of a lending library for teacher and staff development,” said Annie Schave, grants and programs coordinator for Flat Rock Community Schools.

This fall, the Bobcean Elementary Family School Association donated a bookshelf and purchased around 40 books for the lending library. Staff members can borrow books that have topics such as personal development and social-emotional learning.

"This fundraiser funds the majority of our Bobcean Elementary Family School Association operating budget," Bedra said. "It helps fund school assemblies, field trips, the school's movie and streaming license, recess equipment and much more."

As part of the fundraising project, the annual Family Kindness Night is held for Bobcean families. This year's was on Nov. 6. Among the guests was Cattrick, the mascot from the Toledo Walleyes.

"The entire event is centered around students and their families doing acts of kindness," Bedra said. "Once they are done going to the stations, they get their 'kindness passport' 'stamped and are entered into a chance to win prizes. Cattrick attended and interacted with the students and completed acts of kindness. We also had support from Bobcean staff, and Mrs. Bonanno, Mrs. Daberko, Mr. Keck, Mrs. Steffen and Superintendent Brodie attended."

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"I am immensely thankful for the wonderful support from our students, parents, staff and the Flat Rock community. The extraordinary acts of kindness we've seen are a testament to our students' potential to positively influence the future," Bedra said. "I am hopeful that this experience will further motivate them to continue making meaningful differences."

To learn more about Bobcean's kindness and fundraising efforts, visit my.raisecraze.com/give/av1mgbg/.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Students at Flat Rock's Bobcean Elementary raise $43K through kind acts