It’s ‘mission accomplished’ for these kids

K-Kids put the finishing touches on Valentine thank-you hearts given to staff at Old Town (Maine) Elementary School.

The mission of the Old Town (Maine) Elementary School K-Kids club is to “make the world a better place in which to live.” Based on their activities this past school year, the club can proudly proclaim: “Mission accomplished!” Consider:

• International projects undertaken by the club include collecting coins for Pennies for Peace, an organization that encourages US schools to contribute pennies to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan and purchase supplies for them; and raising money for Heifer International, a global nonprofit relief organization that uses donations to purchase livestock for needy families.

• In the community, the K-Kids created a Maine-themed basket to be auctioned off for the River Coalition and, at Christmas, filled gift boxes with candy to give to residents of The Meadows retirement center. The club also joined its sponsoring Orono-Old Town Kiwanis club in a biweekly reading program for preschool children at the YMCA.

• At their school, club members staffed a school store two days a week, served as office messengers, collected cans and bottles for recycling, and created Valentine thank-you hearts for school staff.

The club hopes to remain true to its mission this school year, according to faculty advisor Mary Moreau. “Each year, the Old Town Elementary K-Kids live their mission and learn lessons of caring and leadership that have impact locally and globally,” she says.