The 5th graders in Bloomfield Elementary School’s Cares Clubs are making a real difference this holiday season. They spent their most recent meeting planning their busy December. Currently, the club is collecting new, unused toys for their Toys for Tots drive through December 15. The students will also be selling kazoos at Eastview Mall on Friday, December 19 to benefit Camp Good Days and Special Times. 

On December 17, the club will take a field trip to visit a nursing center in Canandaigua where they will spend time with the residents, playing games and participating in other activities. There, they will also deliver handmade cards they created at their meeting.

Mrs. Ashton, 5th grade teacher and Cares Club advisor, started the club with a focus on service. “I just felt like this can show kids they can do good things and be good people,” Mrs. Ashton said.

Each year, she invites 5th grade students to join, then starts the year brainstorming their passions, interests, and organizations they are interested in serving. “Every year, it’s different depending on what they want to do,” Mrs. Ashton said. 

Most of the service ideas come straight from the students, like an upcoming book drive and a visit to a children’s hospital. Other ideas are perennial favorites: cleaning up at Mt. Hope Cemetery for the United Way Day of Caring and helping out at an animal shelter. 

"It is rewarding to be able to help kids give back to their community while they discover the joy of making a difference,” Mrs. Ashton said. “They’re realizing that even small acts of kindness can create a big, meaningful impact."