Students put “compassion” in action by contributing to community agencies

Post date: Apr 22, 2016 3:20:44 PM

On February 29th, Wells Elementary School held an assembly focused on one of the school’s core values, “Compassion”. This year the assembly was the culmination and celebration of a multi-donation endeavor focused on making a meaningful difference for others.

Invited to the event were representatives of numerous local organizations including Atria Senior Living, Safe Haven Humane Society, York County Shelter, Wells-Ogunquit Community Outreach, the Animal Welfare Society, Maine Children’s Cancer Program, and St. Mary's Ecumenical Food Pantry. Representatives from these entities explained what they do and the importance of what the children collected for them.

According to WES Assistant Principal Ken Spinney, students contributed a variety of items. Kindergarten students collected cat food, cat toys, blankets, paper towels and dishwashing detergent for Safe Haven Humane Society, first grade students collected socks and toiletry items for the York County Shelter, second grade students made valentines for and gave chocolates to residents of Atria Senior Living, third grade and multiage 1-2 students collected non-perishable food items for St. Mary’s Ecumenical Food Pantry, multi-age 3-4 and fourth grade students collected needed items for the Animal Welfare Society, and other fourth graders made cards for children at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Other fourth grade classes collected dimes for Wells Community Outreach.

“I think it’s really important for children to give back to the community and to understand that anyone of us could have a time of need,” said Spinney. “I want them to be able to realize that we are very fortunate to give of ourselves to help each other out.”

According to Spinney, many “thank you” cards and letters had been received from the above mentioned agencies and guests since the assembly. Messages of thanks have also been received at the school from the American Red Cross and the U.S. Army for the 70 care packages donated by WES students and sent to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington and to Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany last December. It should be noted that the York VFW donated $1,500 to ship those packages. Spinney indicated that the “wonderful messages of gratitude” in the cards and letters were shared with the students.

At this assembly, 23 students received the school’s Core Value award for the month of February 2016.

In the photo are guests who attended the Compassion Assembly. They are (rom left to right) Megan Cross (Animal Welfare Society), Diana Abbott. (Wells-Ogunquit Community Outreach), Shirley Haywood (Atria Senior Living), Eleanor Saboski (Safe Haven Humane Shelter), Joan Sylvester (York County Shelter), Paul Goyette (St. Marys Ecumenical Food Pantry), and Ken Spinney.