Ohio Kids Turn $30 Into Good

A group of middle school students in Goshen, OH, is proving that even a small amount of money can create a big impact when it’s used to help others.

Students at Goshen Middle School recently participated in a viral initiative known as the “$20 Kindness Project,” a challenge encouraging young people to use a modest amount of money to spread kindness throughout their community.

But thanks to an extra donation from a parent, the project quickly became something even bigger:

The “$30 Kindness Project.”

Turning Small Gifts Into Big Impact

Teachers Kelly DeNu and Missy Mirus surprised participating students by handing each of them money and asking them to find creative ways to help others.

The goal wasn’t simply to spend the money.

It was to multiply kindness.

“If you spend the $20 on yourself, it stops growing,” DeNu explained. “But if you utilize it in the community, it continues to grow.”

The students embraced the challenge in very different ways.

Some donated supplies to local animal shelters.

Others purchased treats for teammates or thoughtful gifts for nursing home residents.

One student bought a bird feeder for an elderly resident.

And one project, in particular, deeply resonated throughout the community.

Flowers, Handwritten Notes, and a Hospital Parking Lot

Student Savannah Schmidt decided to use her money to brighten the day of strangers facing difficult moments.

She purchased flowers and paired them with handwritten notes before heading to an emergency room parking lot to hand them out.

“Being in an emergency room hospital parking lot is never a good thing,” Schmidt said.

She hoped the small gesture might bring comfort to people going through stressful or emotional situations.

And according to Savannah, the experience changed her too.

“It made me feel really good, just knowing that I could brighten somebody else’s day,” she said.

A Project That’s Continuing to Grow

Teachers say the experience showed students how generosity can ripple outward far beyond a single moment.

The impact was so meaningful that school leaders now hope to expand the program so every middle school student can eventually participate.

Community support is already building.

The Goshen Chamber of Commerce has donated $200 to help fund next year’s project, with additional contributions expected.

Teaching More Than Academics

For educators involved in the initiative, the project wasn’t just about kindness.

It was about helping students understand their ability to positively influence the world around them.

And in an era often dominated by online negativity, the sight of students delivering flowers, writing notes, and helping strangers served as a powerful reminder:

Sometimes the most meaningful lessons happen outside the classroom.