Third Graders Lead Kindness Campaign

‘Be the Sunshine’: Third Graders Lead Kindness Campaign to Bring Back Playground Friendship Bench

In the coastal town of Bar Harbor—located on Mount Desert Island along Maine’s scenic Atlantic coastline—a group of third graders is proving that leadership—and kindness—can start early.

Standing before their school committee, students from Conners Emerson Elementary delivered a heartfelt pitch: bring back a friendship bench to their playground.

A Simple Idea with a Big Purpose

The concept behind a friendship bench is straightforward.

It’s a place where students can sit if they feel left out—signaling to others that they’d like someone to play with.

“A friendship bench is a bench that brings people together using kindness,” one student explained.

For these students, the bench isn’t just a piece of playground equipment—it’s a symbol of inclusion.

Inspired by Kindness—and a Need

The idea grew out of classroom conversations about empathy and positivity.

“When you can’t find kindness, happiness, or hope—be it,” one student told school leaders during the presentation.

The original friendship bench had been removed during school construction, leaving a gap the students felt deeply.

So instead of waiting for someone else to act, they decided to do something about it.

Turning Action Into Impact

The class didn’t just make a request—they built a plan.

Students researched the cost of a new bench—$508—and got to work raising funds themselves.

They designed and sold items like stickers, shirts, magnets, and hats featuring messages such as:

“Spread kindness like peanut butter”
“Friendship is like jelly donuts—it’s sweet”

They even wrote persuasive essays and promoted their campaign online.

The result? They raised more than $592—exceeding their goal.

A Lesson Beyond the Classroom

Their effort didn’t just raise money—it sparked a wider conversation about kindness and inclusion.

Students shared stories of how the original bench helped classmates feel seen and supported.

And school leaders took notice.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” one administrator said of the students’ initiative.

A Ripple Effect in Motion

What makes this story stand out isn’t just the outcome—it’s the approach.

These students identified a problem.
They created a solution.
And they brought their community along with them.

In doing so, they demonstrated a powerful truth:

Kindness isn’t just something you talk about.

It’s something you build.

One idea.
One action.
One bench at a time.