WEST ORANGE, NJ – Redwood Elementary School celebrated their fourth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service by donating 300 “Kindness Kits” to the Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry, the H.E.L.P. Center in Newark, and homeless neighbors in Newark, thanks to Redwood staff member Nancy Hopkins.

The kits were distributed by students and staff on Feb. 19. From mid-January to February, Redwood families donated items like toiletries, hats, gloves, and snacks. Students then worked with their buddy class to pack items into resealable bags and make cards to be included in every one. Each group received approximately 100 kits.

Students prepare cards for kindness kits

Teacher Christie Landau

Student council members arrive with kits to food pantry

Student council members (l-r) Giulianna Orsini Carpenter, Yana Chastanet, Kyle Gordon and Kevin Dougherty deliver Kindness Kits to the West Orange Food Pantry

Redwood Principal Kimya Jackson (center) drops off kits at H.E.L.P. in Newark