A charitable & foundational partnerships to ensure that portions of proceeds and/or profits are channeled to organizations dedicated to building better lives for underprivileged kids.
Today we had the privilege of visiting JFK school in Jamesburg, NJ this morning, to kick off their Week of Respect.
At JFK school, we were greeted by a student body dressed as superheroes. With capes, superhero clothing, and bright smiles, they excitedly engaged in all the interactive role- plays throughout the program.
It was a delight to hear students using our STOP AND THINK hero strategy immediately. Teachers, PTO, guidance, and the principal all said the program was “fabulous,” and they were eager to see the students use our strategies in the school day, and their daily life.
This afternoon, we enjoyed our time spent with the students at Chiddick Elementary School, in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The school was filled with heroes. Each one of the students and teachers proved that they Wear the Cape everyday by sharing how cool it is t be kind to one another.
One first grader spoke volumes when she stated, “Just be nice. That’s what heroes do.” Let’s use this sweet girl as an example of how we should always behave.
“Wealth is not to feed our egos, But to feed the hungry and to help people help themselves.” -Andrew Carnegie
This summer 2018, The Lunchbox Movement launched, delivering lunchboxes filled with love to the children participating in Team Walker in Jersey City (Team Walker is a summer camp whose mission is to “improve the quality of life for the children of Jersey City”).
Across the country, about 30 million children receive free or reduced lunch every school day through the National School Lunch Program. Unfortunately, during summer vacation, many go without lunch—including while attending summer camp.
When the children of Wear the Cape and kidkind foundation Founder Leigh Ann Errico learned of hungry bellies at Team Walker’s camp, they immediately stepped up and created The Lunchbox Movement to help. The partnership with Team Walker was made possible by Board Member Dianne Jacobs.
The Errico children, with assistance from their mom and volunteers, called local stores to request food and monetary donations in order to create and fill reusable lunchboxes—donated by kidkind foundation—with a nutritious lunch and snacks. These lunchboxes not only fed the bellies of Team Walker campers, but also their hearts; the Errico children wrote the reminder that “It’s cool to be kind” by hand and placed them in every child’s lunchbox.
Filling the lunchboxes was a group effort. The Errico children, along with other Cape Kids, spent countless hours of their summer vacation packing the lunchboxes, all while giggling, singing, dancing, and having a blast. “It’s fun to help others!” exclaimed Charlotte Errico, age 8 and a rising third grader.
Thanks to the many donations from local merchants (see donor list below),The Lunchbox Movement was able to fill lunchboxes with bagels, granola bars, waters, juice boxes, fruit snacks, apples, bananas, and cookies. There was such a bounty generously provided by our donor partners that kidkind foundation was able to pack extra foods, so that the campers of Team Walker would have snacks to nourish them in the afternoon, as well as to take home and eat when hungry.
Along with delicious lunches, kidkind foundation donated our children’s book, It’s Good To Be Kind, written by Lauren DuBois Rosemond, a story about sharing kindness in a special way. Click Here to purchase a copy.
We are incredibly grateful to all who donated to The Lunchbox Movement:
Burger King (Gillette, NJ): Juice boxes
Kings (Gillette, NJ): $50 gift card
Costco (Bridgewater, NJ): $25 gift card
Shoprite (Stirling, NJ): $25 gift card
Costco (East Hanover, NJ): $25 gift card
BJs (Linden, NJ): $25 gift card
Acme (Warren, NJ): Napkins, water bottles, granola bars, fruit snacks, juice boxes
“It is heartwarming and meaningful to see children focused on giving and serving others in need,” stated Leigh Ann Errico, Founder and CEO of Wear the Cape and the kidkind foundation.“Summer is about fun and making memories for many, but we need to help our children understand that not all people are so fortunate to enjoy the season, carefree. It’s our job to show kids how to see beyond their own realities and step away from their worlds in order to tap into having compassion for others.”
The kidkind foundation is humbled and grateful for the community support that made the first undertaking of The Lunchbox Movement possible. We look forward to continuing and expanding these valued partnerships in the future!
Please email leighann@wearthcapekids.com to donate or to nominate an organization that is in need of help from The Lunchbox Movement.
It is a privilege to name Dean Ciccarelli as our Cape Kid for the month of May. Dean, who is a student at Chatham High School, in New Jersey dedicates much of his time to kindness…and we are incredibly proud!
Dean has been involved in his school’s sports teams, as he was a member of the Cougar’s varsity wrestling team and freshman lacrosse team. As well, he has shown great commitment and determination to both himself and his peers, as he spent seven years training to become a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, when he was a fifth grader. When he was overwhelmed and wanted to quit, Dean persisted until he reached his goal.
With all this, Dean makes time to volunteer, and serve his community, on a regular basis. Each year Dean is a Cape Kid volunteer at kidkind foundation’s holiday event, where he collects guests’ donations for our military overseas and gifts for underprivileged children. Also at this event, he works with our youngest Cape Kids to help facilitate a fun evening.
Along with his Youth Ministry group, Dean volunteers to make food for the homeless throughout the year. He also volunteered at a local food pantry with his lacrosse team, to help those in need.
Dean has been a constant source of support to Wear the Cape, his family, and friends. His mom, Ann states, “Since the day he was able to talk we knew that Dean was going to be one special kid. He has always been wiser than his years and always has been very concerned with others well being. I have seen various occasions where Dean has seen something that just didn’t seem “right” to him and stepped in to make sure that kids are OK and not being treated poorly. “
With this in mind, it came as no surprise that Dean met with his superintendent of schools to propose a kidkind kindness club, which he will facilitate, in his district’s elementary schools. It is Dean’s goal to work with middle school students to help transition them to middle and high school, while promoting kindness, heroism, good character and being BETTER THAN THAT™. As Dean states, “Being BETTER THAN THAT™ is doing good things, whether that means to be accepting of someone or to even just hold the door for someone.”
Dean, we thank you for your commitment to kindness. You are a true example of being BETTER THAN THAT™ and we are excited to see your kidkind club come to fruition.
Today we had the privilege of visiting JFK school in Jamesburg, NJ this morning, to kick off their Week of Respect.
This afternoon, we enjoyed our time spent with the students at Chiddick Elementary School, in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The school was filled with heroes. Each one of the students and teachers proved that they Wear the Cape everyday by sharing how cool it is t be kind to one another.
