WEST ORANGE, NJ – Redwood Elementary School recently completed their school-wide “Kindness Kits” project, part of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Student Council co-advisors Jennifer Paull and Christie Landau worked with the council to collect a variety of donated goods for people in need.

This year’s kits contained items that included snacks, drinks, toiletries, hats, scarves, and first aid items. Donations were collected for three weeks. Council members then helped to sort and organize the donations so that buddy classes could pack up the kindness kits and create cards to go together with them.

School counselor Rebecca Beutel organized this year’s list and Principal Kimya Jackson and Mrs. Kargbo-Jackson delivered over 200 kits to the H.E.L.P. Center, a homeless shelter in Newark.

Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry received approximately 100 kits, which were dropped off by Paull and Redwood fifth grade teacher Chris Yonitch.

“We are very grateful for the Kindness Kits,” said Food Pantry Administrator Cynthia Cumming.

“My children attended Redwood School several years ago and I still consider the staff to be like family. Our clients were happy to receive the kits, and they’ll be put to good use.”

(L-R, rear)  Ainslie Pierznik, Kevin Dougherty, Trace Moul, Kairo Kirwan, and Alexis Akimboyewa

(L-R, front) Giuliana Carpenter, Lyla Baker, Nevaeh Philemon and Raaga Saha. 

Jenn Paull and Chris Yonitch drop off the Kindness Kits to the food pantry on Feb. 20.