Rather than focus on the second anniversary of the Feb. 27 Chardon High School shooting, district Community Relations Coordinator Ellen Ondrey said students decided to…
Rather than focus on the second anniversary of the Feb. 27 Chardon High School shooting, district Community Relations Coordinator Ellen Ondrey said students decided to hold different activities throughout the month.
In memory of Danny Parmertor, Demetrius Hewlin and Russell King, Jr. — the students shot to death by convicted killer and fellow student T.J. Lane — February was designated “Think Kindness Month” at Chardon Schools, Ondrey said.
“We encourage people to help us make the world a more kind and caring place,” she said.
Earlier this month, the students partnered with Think Kindness to collect 2,000 pairs of used shoes in 15 days.
Think Kindness is a nonprofit organization that brings youth motivational speakers into schools and inspires students to spread kindness within their communities.
“With shoes, we are able to create the visual representation that when one act of kindness is done in solidarity, with an entire student body, we can truly change the world — from the feet up,” Ondrey said.
All of the shoes collected are to be distributed to people in need, with 20 percent remaining in the local community and the remaining 80 percent are to be distributed by Think Kindness to people in developing countries.
About 5,100 pairs of shoes were dropped off at Chardon High School, the Chardon library and area churches from Feb. 6-21.
Another activity has been “Teens for Jeans,” a program created to donate used jeans to homeless teenagers under age 18.
The used jeans are being donated to Aeropostale, which has a national campaign to help less fortunate teens.
On Valentine’s Day, the Chardon High School Teen Leadership Corps sponsored a senior dance organized to help the community’s seniors citizens celebrate life “in mind, body and spirit,” Ondrey said.
About 70 seniors attended the dance held at Chardon United Methodist Church, said Geauga County Department on Aging Director Jessica Boalt.
In addition, fourth- through eighth-grade students are engaged in community service projects.
On Thursday, there will be a Chardon?High?School student assembly featuring Bobby Petrocelli, a motivational speaker and author who talks to high school and college students about overcoming tragedy.
Petrocelli’s address will not be open to the public.
The author of “10 Seconds Will Change Your Life Forever,” Petrocelli overcame personal physical and emotional injuries after losing his wife to a bizarre accident in 1984.
He and his late wife, Ava, went to bed in the Houston, Texas, suburb of League City. He awoke badly injured in his kitchen after a speeding pickup driven by an intoxicated driver crashed through his bedroom wall.
Petrocelli, whose wife did not survive the crash, shares how he fought through an emotional darkness to overcome his personal injuries and loss by relying on his faith and friends, Ondrey said.
As a high school teacher and coach, his love for youth has inspired him to take his dramatic story to audiences nationwide.
Activities open to the public are a Thursday evening community ecumenical vigil starting at 7 p.m in front of the high school.
Cookies and hot chocolate will be served in the Chardon High School cafeteria from 7-7:25 p.m. followed the ecumenical program, which will last until 7:45 p.m, she said.
The program will close with a lantern launch and prayer from 7:45-8 p.m.
