Giving Comfort

Learning that a friend, relative, or peer is experiencing significant hardships can be challenging for anyone, let alone a child. We can sometimes feel helpless or guilty about our own privileges. At home and in school, we teach our children to express empathy for all, but witnessing a child’s compassion in action is truly magical.

When Quinn, a Stewart Elementary student, learned one of his peers was experiencing homelessness, he felt motivated to act. Quinn and his mother approached their school counselor, who brought Carrie, a CIS site coordinator, into the conversation about how to empower the family.

“Quinn said it was getting too cold, and he didn’t want the student to be sleeping in this car,” Carrie said. “I assured Quinn that this family was being taken care of. The mother then asked if they could do something else, maybe for all the students at the school.”

The group decided a stuffed animal and warm sock drive would give each student at Stewart something warm and cozy to enjoy. Quinn and his mother spread the word through the community, collecting enough items and funds to provide each student in preschool to third grade with a stuffed animal and in fourth to sixth grade with a pair of socks.

“Each student went home with something cozy for the winter break because an eight-year-old boy had the compassion to give rather than receive this season,” Carrie said. “Quinn is a little guy with a big heart who will someday move mountains.”

While CIS of Puyallup was honored to play a part in this incredible effort, all credit is due to Quinn for his empathic, selfless nature to help his fellow students enjoy the holiday season a little more.