The students at Black Mountain Primary (BMP) and W.D. Williams Elementary knew all too well what it felt like to see their schools and communities changed by disaster. When Hurricane Helene left its mark on their small North Carolina town, kindness poured in from across the country - letters, supplies, gifts, and warm wishes from strangers who wanted to help. Now, it was their turn to do the same.
Just a few weeks earlier, the students heard about the devastating floods in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia. The waters rushed through the mountain towns, forcing schools to close for weeks. The students at BMP and W.D. Williams knew the feeling, but they also knew the power of a simple act of kindness.
Determined to bring a little bit of joy to their fellow students, classes at both schools came together to make something special. Tiny hands carefully strung colorful beads onto stretchy cords, each bracelet a symbol of friendship and hope from W.D. Williams. BMP decorated picture frames, carefully making each one unique. Some students wrote heartfelt notes, reminding the kids in Mingo County, West Virginia they weren’t alone.
“This was a chance for us to pay it forward,” said W.D. Williams Principal Christy Jones. “We are so thankful for all the love that was poured out to W.D. over the past few months following Hurricane Helene. It is important that our students understand that we can do the same for others. We hope that they will brighten the day of these students and let them know that we are thinking of them and they are not alone.”
BMP first-grader Brynnleigh Hensley remembered how much it had meant to receive kindness from others. Now, she delivered the same kindness herself from North Carolina to West Virgina with her family. With a smile and a heart full of excitement once in West Virginia, Brynnleigh carefully handed the gifts to Christie Tilley of Ming County Schools, knowing they were headed exactly where they needed to be.
“I cannot express how much I appreciate the love and thoughtfulness your students have shown us,” said Ms. Tilley. “I still get tears in my eyes when I think of how much care went into the gifts.”
When Mingo County students returned to school the week of March 3, 2025, the gifts were waiting for them. The hallways echoed with laughter and excitement. Children slipped bracelets onto their wrists smiling at the thought that another kid, miles away had made it just for them. Others tucked handwritten notes into their backpacks, little reminders that there were people who cared.
For a moment the stress of the past few weeks faded. The students of Mingo County felt seen, loved, and supported. And for the students of BMP and W.D. Williams, the act of giving reminded them of something powerful - kindness always comes full circle.
