Lacombe’s Kindness Month was officially launched on Feb. 1, and BGC Wolf Creek – Lacombe is ramping up their own set of kindness-themed activities.
“For Kindness Month at our Club, every Wednesday we wear our pink shirts and do a kindness activity,” said Melissa Tschirren, program director/coordinator.
“We are also open during Teachers’ Convention this year, which is from Feb. 21 to the 24, and there will be kindness-themed activities that whole week as well.
“Boston Pizza has also paired with us on Feb. 22 - they will be making all of our kiddos heart-shaped pizzas, along with a cookie and a juice box. We are also going to be having a community guest that day!”
The kids will also be given a budget of $100 that week to help out a local business or organization, she said.
Meanwhile, the Club also has an Affirmation Jar at the school where if someone is feeling down, they can pick something out of there to help cheer themselves up.
“We’ve also got a Kindness Matters calendar, so it’s like a bingo for them. During Teachers’ Convention week, they will have the opportunity to win a pink shirt by doing the things on the calendar,” she said, adding these activities include telling someone a reason why you like them, making someone a card, giving someone a high five or simply by cheering up a friend.
“Those are the four things that week,” she said, adding that the Club works with kids ages five to 11.
“I think all of this helps with the anti-bullying message, and it’s also about teaching them to be kind in the community,” she said. “I think that is the main emphasis - how do we interact with people in a kind way?
“It’s also starting to form some of those habits,” she said.
BGC (formerly known as the Boys and Girls Club) set up operations in the City this past fall.
The organization runs programming at both the Upper Elementary and Terrace Ridge schools.
“We have about 18 at the Upper Elementary, and then it ranges from about eight to 10 at Terrace Ridge each day. On the Professional Development days, we’ve been averaging around 25 so that has been fabulous,” she said, adding that programming on PD days only runs at the Upper Elementary location.
For Tschirren, her post with BGC has been going really well since she came onboard this past fall.
“It’s been a huge learning curve for sure, and I’ve learned a lot of new things. Probably the coolest thing to see is the kids recruiting other kids for the club. They will tell their friends and then all of a sudden the following week we will have more kids because they are so excited,” she said, adding that watching the kids grow personally within the program has been terrific as well.
These days, plans are taking shape for summer camp.
“That will give kids in Lacombe somewhere safe and fun to go,” she said, adding that registration for camp kicks off in May.
Meanwhile, in a partnership with FCSS announced earlier this month, FCSS is selling pink shirts on behalf of BGC.
Those interested in purchasing a pink shirt can call 403-704-4216 or stop by the FCSS office.
Proceeds from the sales of the shirts will go towards BGC anti-bullying initiatives.