A coffee cup sleeve is a small thing. At Stonehaven Elementary School in Newmarket, it became one way students sent kindness into the community.

Students in grades 2 to 4 took part in community projects focused on kindness, joy and compassion, according to a York Region District School Board news release.

In the Grade 2 art classroom, students designed coffee cup sleeves with colourful artwork and encouraging messages. The sleeves were then returned to a local coffee shop.

The school board said the response from the shop was “overwhelmingly positive,” with messages sent back to the school thanking students for brightening people’s day.

Grade 3 and 4 students took on a second project, putting together kindness kits for people facing housing instability and financial hardship.

The kits included personal necessities and were donated to Inn From the Cold and Belinda’s Place, with the goal of helping meet needs in the community.

“My favourite part was packing the bags because I can tell that these items are going to go to good use for other people,” said Liam, a Grade 3 student at Stonehaven Elementary School.

The school board said the projects showed students how small acts can have an impact, while helping them build community and connection through service and creative expression.

“It is important to learn about community and kindness because it can spread to other people,” said Jade, a Grade 3 student at Stonehaven.

The school said it plans to continue and expand the initiatives in the spring and hopes other schools will join in.