Big Impact From Small Changemakers

Each fall, two first-grade classrooms at Milton Bradley Elementary School in Springfield come together to show their community what being a good citizen truly means. Through the school’s aptly named Good Citizen Project, these young learners choose a local organization close to their hearts and then roll up their sleeves to help in meaningful, hands-on ways.

For the fourth year in a row, the first graders chose Dakin Humane Society—and we couldn’t have been more honored. We were thrilled when Mackenzie Larose, who led the project, contacted Dakin’s Community Outreach Manager, Kaitlyn Holloway, to share the exciting news.

Eager to help animals in a tangible way, the students decided to organize a donation drive to support Dakin’s ongoing needs. Their first step was learning what would be most helpful. The children thoughtfully prepared questions, which Kaitlyn answered on a Zoom meeting a month later that connected her to the children. Among their curious and caring questions were:

• What do you feed the animals?

• What cleaning supplies do you need?

• Do animals need toys, too?

With their answers in hand, the students jumped into action. They spread the word throughout the school, created colorful flyers, and made announcements to encourage participation. Along the way, they learned how to work as a team, organize a project, and—most importantly—how even small actions can make a big difference.

On Friday, November 7, more than 30 first-grade students, joined by several adult chaperones, set off on foot from their Mulberry Street school carrying bags filled with donated supplies. As they turned the corner and headed down the hill on Union Street toward Dakin, our staff couldn’t help but smile—and affectionately dub the procession “The March of the Littles.”

Waiting to welcome them were Dakin’s Executive Director Meg Talbert, Kaitlyn, and several other team members. One by one, each child proudly placed their donation into the donation bin outside Dakin’s front door. Laughter and excitement filled the air as the group gathered for a celebratory photo, made even sweeter by the presence of Kaitlyn’s dog, River.

“These exceptionally compassionate students worked so hard on their Good Citizen project, making posters and filming video presentations to share their message with their schoolmates,” Kaitlyn shared. “When I joined their classroom on Zoom, they asked such thoughtful, detailed questions about how best to help animals. This project is a wonderful way to create young changemakers by showing them—hands-on—how to support something that truly matters to them.”

We are deeply grateful to these young animal lovers for their kindness and generosity, and to everyone who supported their efforts. Their compassion gives us so much hope for the future.