LANDIS — The power of actions plus words equals kindness.

That’s the lesson that math teacher Emily Carden wanted to pass along to the eighth grade students at Corriher-Lipe Middle School when she applied for and received a $500 grant from Thrivent Financial.

Every eighth grade student, 170 total, were given the chance to write a story about someone in their life who deserved a special gift this Christmas. Carden explained that students were to share in their stories who they would buy for, what they want to buy and why.

Once the stories were turned in, all of the eighth grade teachers, plus several of the counselors, read each response with the top vote getters being selected and taken shopping with a $25 budget to select that special gift, spreading kindness and Christmas cheer.

As the bus arrived at the Kannapolis Walmart, the students, teachers and additional volunteers went straight to their particular aisles, knowing what they wanted to select.

Some were looking for clothes and jewelry, others had tools in mind, or that piece of fishing gear, each wanting something special for their deserving person.

Many of the heartfelt letters told how they wanted to buy presents for family members, Carden noted, and others wrote letters about friends, one was for a teacher, Ms. Caraccio and several wanted to buy for the school’s custodian, Mr. Whitley.

Curtis Furr shared that he was one of several who wanted to remember Whitley this Christmas as he held up the tool set telling that he felt he definitely deserves this.

“He’s always super nice to me. Everyday, I go in there and he throws me a big ole wave and a smile and a ‘hey Curtis’ every morning.”

This kindness lesson not only allowed special people to be remembered, but it was equally important for those doing the giving, allowing them the opportunity to share with others.

Students Makenna Barham, Keelie Marie Furr, Rose Toole and Morgan Clarke all told that being able to do this meant a lot to them.

Barham said “there’s some people that in their life deserve something extra special” and wanted to get something for her grandpa, she said, who is in a nursing home and doesn’t get a lot for Christmas. “So it means a lot that I get to get him something.”

Wanting to say an extra special thank you to her aunt for all she had done was why Keelie Furr selected her.

“She put her life down for me and my brother after our parents both died. It means a lot to me to be able to come and do this for her.” 

Toole wanted to let her big brother know how much he is loved as she pointed out the shirt she got for him. “He comes every year and he’s in the Army, she said.

Telling how her mom makes sure everyone else is taken care of and they have dinner and bake cookies, Clarke said that “mom doesn’t usually get Christmas gifts” therefore “this whole process really is very important to me.” 

Principal April Williamson accompanied the group on their shopping trip and shared how important and special this day was and how blessed the students were that they had the opportunity to pass along kindness to others.

The lesson, she shared, was “about kindness of others and the power of words” and while we want students to be successful, “it’s more than that. It’s being a good person and caring about others.”