Paige Benshoof (L) and Bronwen Boyd of Tolt Middle School Junior Honor Society display the care kits they put together. Last year the Tolt Middle School National Junior Honor Society members worked with the sixth grade classes to create over 200 personal product care kits for the Puerta Abierta Foundation, which helped families in many impoverished communities in Costa Rica.

This year, members were challenged to search the community for groups and organizations that might like to contribute additional care kits to the 100 packages members had already created. As a result, members coordinated with scout groups, 4-H groups, and elementary schools within the school district. Others took advantage of family get-togethers to coordinate the gathering of additional kits.

Below are some details shared by students regarding some of their outreach experiences:

Mitchell Frimodt talked to his neighborhood and collected 12 care kits: “I sent an email to my neighbors and some of my relatives explaining PAFF and listing items to collect,” said NJHS officer Mitchell Frimodt. “My neighbors dropped off bags of items and my relatives brought care kits when they visited.”

Miles Denison talked to his boy scouts and collected 28 care kits:

“I sent out e-mails to scouts saying that we were looking for care kits to send to Costa Rica” said member Miles Denison. “I then collected 28 completed care kits.”

Members Jessica Strong and Bronwen Boyd went to QFC and collected 29 care kits and got a $50 donation:

“We set up a table in front of QFC on Redmond Ridge and handed out flyers, listing the items to purchase while shopping,” explained NJHS Vice President Bronwen Boyd. “Thefinal result was that we got enough stuff to make 29 care kits.”

Due to the overwhelming interest and participation in this project, what began as a drive at school for kits during the Holidays has now become an ongoing community effort. Interested community members are encouraged to contact Mr. Klune at Tolt Middle School for additional information.

Congratulations to the JNHS students at Tolt and their advisor, Mark Klune for engaging their fellow students and our community in this tremendous effort and validating that charity does in fact “start at home”, however its influence can be felt all around the world.