Junior High Kids Shower Community with Kindness

Published by admin on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 3:13pm

Area junior high children have embraced a new program through the local library system, and in so doing, have enriched the lives of others during this school term.

The program got its start because each fall, the Grant County Public Library staff establishes a program line up to align with the school year. Previous programs are evaluated with the most popular and well attended being brought back for another year, and new ones are added in hopes of attracting new library users and remaining relevant, according to Tammy Wollschlager, library director.

When designing the programs, the staff observes a goal of having library programs for all ages, and opportunities that represent vast interests. As the programs were being planned late in 2025 for the fall, winter, and spring season, the library representatives wanted a program that would attract the junior high-aged students. “Like many libraries, we see a decline of junior high-aged library users,” Wollschlager noted. “We wanted a program that would attract that age demographic. We knew it would have to be fun, fast-paced, adaptable, meaningful, and involve snacks. A pay-it-forward-type of program that would give youth an opportunity to do something they could be proud of seemed to be a good fit for the group we hoped to reach,” Wollschlager explained.

The program, known as tRAKs was created. tRAKs is an acronym for tween Random Acts of Kindness. Tweens is a term used to describe children as they transition into teenagers. Library staff believed tweens from fifth to eighth grades would enjoy completing random acts of kindness. The name tRAKs also seemed to be a good fit in Milbank, known for train tracks and years ago, Trainfest, according to Wollschlager.

The goal was that once a month after school, the library would provide the tRAKs attendees a tRAKstivity doing a random act of kindness for someone in the community. “The focus was to remember the forgotten, pay it forward to those in the community that maybe are not given as much recognition as they deserve, need to be thanked, and let them know they are appreciated,” Wollschlager said.

The first tRAKstivity event was conducted in September and was led by Kim McCrea and Tammy Wollschlager. With September being the month of the Milbank High School homecoming, the staff chose the Milbank School bus drivers to be the first recipients of the program’s random act of kindness. This was expanded to include the community bus drivers, too. The students made bulldog-themed candy bouquets to deliver to the bus garage and community transit building.

Then, on October 28, the small group met again and set out to make a big impact. They wrote thank you cards for about 80 volunteer firemen in Milbank and surrounding towns in Grant County. They also painted firemen-themed appreciation gift bags filled with items representing the thanks they were being extended.

In November, the tRAKsters were right on tRAKs as they chose to do a random act of kindness for the in-home daycare providers in the community. They painted a snowman door sign for each home. The creations were sure to bring a smile to the kids the providers cared for and send a message to the providers they are appreciated for the service they provide in the community.

When the group gathered on December 16, the kids decorated cut-out Christmas cookies to share with shut-ins, neighbors, teachers or loved ones. Of course, the kids had a few to eat, too, but the message that giving a random act of kindness to someone else surpassed eating the best cookie.

When the January 20 gathering ocurred, the tRAKs participants met to create Valentine centerpieces that were delivered to St. William’s Care Center, Avantara, Park Place Assisted Living, and Peaceful Pines Senior Living Center. The students wanted to “sweeten the days” of those living in care facilities in the community as well, as those who work in the centers, by giving them art from the heart.

In February, the group’s random act of kindness involved making St. Patrick’s Day-themed gifts to let the school custodial crew know how “lucky” the students are to have them and their service.

When tRAKs met on March 17, the participants did an art project painting cherry blossom trees and branches to welcome spring and hopefully bring a smile to whomever each chose to give their gift in April. In observance of the traditions associated with St. Patrick’s Day, the kids taste-tested corned beef and cabbage, but most preferred the candy in the pot of gold.

The finale for the season was staged on Tuesday, April 21. Each month, the kids had focused on doing a random act of kindness for others. The April meeting was about them being kind to themselves. It was more of a celebration for their accomplishments over the year celebrated with food, fun, and games.

The goal with this program was that this small group of junior high students would share a random act of kindness that would bring joy to the recipient and then they would pay it forward.

“Seeing the smiles of the recipients and reading the thank you cards to the tRAKsters energized them with more ideas for the next month. Getting to know these kids was so fun and rewarding for me too. At the finale, we talked ways to continue this in the fall with new ideas,” McCrea stated.

“One thing is for sure – the tRAKsters who participated made the community better – one random kindness at a time and accomplished much to be proud of,” Wollschlager concluded.