On the 14th of every month we at VolunteerSquare.com choose to acknowledge individuals or groups giving back to the community in positive and meaningful ways. It’s just our small gesture to keep the spirit of Sandy Hook alive. Today, 6 months after the shooting, we are honoring an exceptional young woman who turned the tragedy into something truly remarkable.
On the morning of December 14th, Kaitlin Roig was with her students in her first grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School starting what she assumed would be a normal Friday. But as we all know December 14th didn’t end like any normal school day. In the painful days that followed the shooting, something pretty powerful was born.
Roig, a Greenwich resident, is the voice behind a new nonprofit called Classes 4 Classes. The group’s mission is to engage students in grades K-5 in giving back to the community. The group’s philosophy is strongly rooted in the notion that we are connected to one another and therefore should care for one another. The final line in the Classes 4 Classes mission statement says it best: “When we teach kindness, compassion, love and empathy, there is no room for hate.” What a powerful way to respond to such a senseless act of violence!
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Roig tells us the idea came to her when she and the students returned to school in January, overwhelmed by the kindness pouring into the Sandy Hook community.
“From school supplies to handmade snowflakes to teddy bears and books, we were floored by the generosity of people not only here in Connecticut but from all over the country.” said Roig.
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Roig told us about one day in particular that she and her students received a box of toys to use at recess. She says the kids were so excited and she asked them why people were sending these things and being so supportive. Roig says she started thinking about ways to show her kids how important it is to give back to others.
Roig says she found a video online called "Boxes for Katje" showing an American girl sending a care package to a young girl in Europe after World War II. Roig says she used the video to illustrate to her students the concepts of kindness, compassion and the notion of giving without expecting anything in return. But she thought more could be done. And Classes 4 Classes was born.
Classes 4 Classes works with an 8 step process that serves as a guideline for educators. It allows teachers to involve their students in brainstorming about a project to support another class but really helps put the kids in the driver’s seat, coming up with ideas for the project.
“This is something that every student can to do,” Roig said. “It’s so important to show them that even though they’re young they still have the power to make a difference. They can still be a part of learning to give.”
Roig and her team have big plans for the future of Classes 4 Classes and we urge you to check out the website to learn more about their projects and how you can get involved.
Bravo, Kaitlin! You are an inspiration to the VolunteerSquare.com team and the communities in the region! If you know an individual or group giving back to the community please be sure to let us know so we can share their story next month.
