Growing Hearts and Giving Hands at Oak Creek Elementary

The first- time partnership between The Chelsea Hicks Foundation and Oak Creek Elementary was nothing short of inspirational.

In the busy lives of educators, who already have more than enough to fill their plates, it is always remarkable when they choose to say yes to something more. Not because it is easy. Not because they have extra time. But because they believe in shaping not only strong students, but strong hearts.

Behind every thriving school are extraordinary leaders. At Oak Creek Elementary, that leadership begins with Principal Barb Keeton. When I reached out about engaging students and staff in supporting our mission, she responded quickly with an enthusiastic yes. That yes reflected something much bigger. It showed her confidence in her dedicated team and her belief that this would be a meaningful opportunity for their students.

After sharing more about our foundation with their incredible staff, leaders Ashley Speer, Renee Santana, Josh Purkeypile, and Wendy Conrow stepped forward to help bring the vision to life. Together, they organized a supply drive from February 9 through 13, collecting bubbles, crayons, markers, sticker sheets, coloring books, and one class tying fleece blankets for children facing serious illness.

What this small but mighty school accomplished in just one week was incredible.

Students and families donated: 205 boxes of crayons and markers
 86 bottles of bubbles
 80 sheets of stickers
 122 coloring books
 8 fleece blankets

More than 500 items in total!

The impact of those donations will be felt in hospital rooms and homes where children need moments of lightness and joy. Bubbles will float through the air. Coloring books will spark creativity. Stickers will decorate IV poles and notebooks. Simple items will become tools for comfort and distraction during very hard days.

And behind every one of those donations were families who said yes at home. Parents who added coloring books to their shopping carts and who talked with their children about why giving matters. Families who took time out of their own busy schedules to contribute. Their partnership is just as meaningful, and we are deeply grateful for the example they are setting. When compassion is modeled at home and reinforced at school, something powerful happens.

This partnership was about community. It was about educators intentionally creating space for students to practice empathy in real and tangible ways. It was about helping young people understand that they have the ability to make someone else’s day brighter. That lesson is just as meaningful as the items collected.

We are deeply grateful for the leadership, staff, students, and families of Oak Creek Elementary for embracing this opportunity with such generosity and heart. Together, we are shaping a future where kindness is practiced, compassion is modeled, and giving back becomes second nature.

Because you are never too young to learn that even the smallest act of generosity can make a very big difference.