Harrison’s New Outreach Program Focuses On Kindness, Community

LAKEWOOD, OH — Students and staff at Harrison Elementary have embarked on a yearlong community service program dubbed Harrison Outreach Program (HOP). The school celebrated with a rousing kickoff assembly at the end of September that included a visit from the One Million Acts of Kindness bus of Bob Vortruba and his dog, Bogart. Vortruba and Bogart travel the country in his bus covered in words and acts of kindness spreading his organization’s message.

Staff members developed HOP as a replacement for Student Council in an effort to offer a way for more students to be involved and participate in making a difference in their community. Besides offering a means for students to give back to the community, HOP is designed to provide students with opportunities to help others as well as offer support in helping students practice kindness, compassion and empathy.

The school already has its first outreach project under its belt. In late September, some Harrison staff members delivered water, snacks and office supply donations to the Lakewood Police Department, bought with loose change the students brought to school over several weeks. The school chose to honor police officers in their first project as they are someone in the community with which even our youngest students are familiar.

“We wanted to provide a greater opportunity for more students to take on leadership roles and increase our opportunity for student involvement in community service experiences that support various entities within our own community,”

Principal Sabrina Crawford said about HOP. “By doing this, we are giving every student at Harrison the chance to demonstrate acts of kindness and give back.”

Written by Christine Gordillo

Photo: Lakewood City Schools