The Scarf Project
We are moving towards building community within the city of Kalamazoo. We have this passion to restore the shalom God created us to experience.
But it's not just for adults. Cultivating generosity in our children is a pretty amazing privilege. Do kids understand that idea? Do they get it? You bet. Read the following response to our Kids Community - Backyard (K-5th grade) Scarf Project.
Becky Smith teaches a Head Start Group in the inner city of Kalamazoo. She is a participant at Threads and shares her story.
This is the account of my amazing experience of giving out the scarves that were made by Backyard kiddos to my Head Start babies.
Ms. Esther dropped the scarves off to my classroom on Wednesday. The scarves were so beautiful, I squealed with delight as I looked at them. Other teachers came in and they too were in awe of how beautiful they were, we were all excited to be able to share such beautiful things with the kids.
When my morning class began eating their breakfast, I brought out one box of scarves and set it on a table. When they saw the box, their eyes automatically got big and wide as they know that we normally get new toys and things for our classroom out of big boxes. I opened the box and the kids gasped as they saw the brightly colored things. I took out a scarf and put it on, then I asked them if they knew what I was wearing, most of them answered that it was a scarf. I brought out one of each color. They "oooooooed" and "ahhhhed", commenting on how pretty, beautiful, clean and soft they looked. Next we went through and named the colors, the kids loved how bright they were. I asked the children if they liked them and they said, yes. I then explained to them that other children thought that they were special kids. I asked my kids if they were special and most of them replied with a yes. I continued to say that these other kids thought that they were so special and they cared about them even though they had never met them before and that they wanted to do something for such special kids so these other kids made them a special gift to show kindness. To some of my children, this concept was very hard to understand, that people who do not know them wanted to be nice to them. For others, the concept was way too hard to grasp and they were just excited to get something new, bright, and clean. For the ones that were struggling with the notion, we talked about how some people are just really nice and want to respect everyone (a concept that we work on in the classroom), I could tell that this made some of my children think very hard as they played with the idea throughout the morning. The might have not understood it but they accepted it and I could live with that. I then explained to my kids that after lunch they would each be able to pick out a special scarf that was made just for them and that they could take it home with them and keep it. All of them were very excited by this, some clapped, others shouted, giggled and laughed, it looked like Christmas morning.
I continued to explain to the children that if they so chose, during choice time they could make something in return for the scarves, a thank-you to the kids who made them. A lot of my kids thought that this was a very good idea, that they should be kind and respectful back. So, during much of the morning, children finger painted, glued and wrote thank-yous to the "other kids", the kids who made them their beautiful scarves.
After lunch the children were so excited, I saw all of the anticipation during lunch time as they ate very quickly and quietly. After they were excused they went and put on their coats without fooling around (something that has NEVER HAPPENED) and lined up nicely next to where I was letting them pick out their special scarf. As each child approached me, I would ask them what color they wanted, they would pick their color, I would get a scarf for them, and then I would cut off the card and read it to them. I would then ask them if they wanted to keep the card or if they wanted to throw it away, all of the children wanted to keep the card- and keep it someplace close. After I had read the card to them, they would take it from my hand and neatly (as neat as a 4 yr old can) fold it up and put it in their pocket. Later I would see them "reading" their cards to one another, touching the cards, pictures, and writing. Even on the bus they were so proud of their cards, showing them to other children who were on the bus and to every adult that would listen to them. Some kids even kissing their cards, showing them how much they loved them and displaying how loved they felt by receiving them. I wrapped the scarves around my kid's necks and their eyes got big. They loved how soft they were, how squishy they felt and how warm they knew they were going to be outside. A lot of children commented on how they had never had a scarf before and now they get to have one like Ms. Becky. When we exited the building to get on our busses, my children walked with their heads held high, smiles from ear to ear and with a warmth and confidence from inside that I rarely see.
My afternoon experience was pretty much the same, my children were so happy. My afternoon kids are older however and tried to understand the non-worldly concept of pure kindness the best that they could. Even if they could not understand it, they could accept it and that was fine with me. They were very excited to write thank-yous, many of the girls sat at the writing table the whole afternoon writing letters to the nice kids who had made them their new scarves. I have some self-transporters in the afternoon (children who get dropped off/picked up by their parents) and the parents thought that the scarf were amazing, so bright and beautiful.
Thank you so much for making the scarves and allowing me to give them to my babies. It was such an amazing experience, I know that the spirit of the Lord was in each scarf and the children could feel His love as they snuggled them around their necks. This is something that I know that I will personally never forget, and I know that my babies will not forget it either.
This vision is growing. Join the revolution. Questions? Call our office - 269.327.0445.
