Kindergarten students from St. Aloysius School, Jackson, recently demonstrated their ability to help others at an early age. With the help of a school parent and PTA board member, Hearts Apart was identified as a program with which students could provide assistance. This is a social community program that supports spouses/families who are geographically separated from their service member for more than 30 days as a result of a temporary duty, deployment or remote tour to boost their morale and well-being. The Military and Family Support Center hosts a monthly dinner and includes children’s activities and resources for the families. The St. Aloysius School students were asked to bring in items that children of these families could use to color and make crafts to help them while their parents are deployed. By becoming involved in Hearts Apart, the Kindergarten students realized how blessed they are and learned about the importance of helping others.
Hearts Aparts Bobbie Seidel, Team Lead at the Military and Family Support Center, states “Our families who experience deployments and separations go through unique stressors and the Hearts Apart Program is here to provide support and allow families to meet each other in a social atmosphere. New friendships are formed and the support these families give each other is amazing. The Military and Family Support Center strives each month to provide a supportive and fun place to be for the children and families who have a loved one away.”
Kindergarten teacher, Jen Nemeth said, “I am so proud of my students and families when I see a plan like this coming together. We teach even our littlest student the value of helping others and when they see that first hand by being involved with programs like Hearts Apart, it helps them become stewards of the future.”