'Children helping children': Onslow middle school students lead blanket drive for Ukraine

While many middle school students are spending their hours on TikTok, a group of Onslow middle schoolers are donating their time to the children of Ukraine.

Sixth grade students at Jacksonville Commons Middle School started connecting the dots when they were asked to read the book Number the Stars in teacher Octavia Thomas' class.

As the plot began to unfold just like the war started by Russia in Ukraine, Thomas' students knew they had to do something to help.

"We kind of just felt for them, and we wanted them to know that we were feeling, we were thinking of them, we were like, what can we do," said student Jessie Olan.

Jessie said they didn't want to send food because of the concern with it spoiling, and after doing more research, they discovered many Ukrainian children were sleeping on the cold floor of subways, thus Operation Cozy Care was born.

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Operation Cozy Care is a blanket drive, and Thomas' students, who she's named blanket ambassadors, hope to help as many children as they can, with a goal of providing blankets to at least 600 Ukrainian children.

"But that's still not enough compared to how many needs there are," said student and blanket ambassador Kai Albough.

Kai said he's so happy to be able to make a change, and that this is an opportunity he never thought he'd have.

"Your typical middle schooler right now is me me me, but these kids are different, they want to help others and their hearts are just so big and as teachers, that is refreshing," said JCMS AIG specialist Allison Buckley, who is also involved in the drive. "It is so refreshing to get kids that want to do better."

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The drive is completely student-led, and the blanket ambassadors have gained many life skills throughout the process, specifically with their emails. Jessie and fellow student and ambassador Sara Bhonhariya sought out as many schools and businesses as they could, to participate in Operation Cozy Care.

Jessie said that although they got some "vetoes," they managed to get many to participate, including Northwoods Elementary, Northwoods Park Middle School, Dixon Middle School, Bell Fork Elementary, all of the libraries, and the recreation center. Dairy Queen even agreed to host a box.

As the drive continues to have success, Sara expressed her passion for the project.

"Being a child in a crisis, I believe, can be more difficult than being an adult, because you have so many advantages as an adult, but you're just a child, you don't understand anything that's happening but you're going through that environment the same," Sara said.

Fellow student and ambassador Mary Elizabeth Everson said the operation makes her happy and excited knowing she's getting to help people, and Sara expressed the importance of them being middle schoolers making a difference, children helping children.

"For me, as children, especially middle schoolers, our voices get put down a lot and people assume that maybe we don't know anything and sometimes that's true, sometimes it's not," Sara said.

"But in this case scenario, me as a person, I'm very glad that I have this opportunity to help, because there's been a lot, not even just Ukraine, you also have all these other countries going through some stuff that haven't been a spotlight on it, so, I'm glad we're able to help at least one of those many countries."

Other schools have been enthusiastic to join JCMS' efforts with the blanket drive, and Bell Fork Elementary Assistant Principal Sandra Adams said the fact the project was student-led, made her even more excited to participate. So, she recruited some of her fourth graders.

Adams said she even required one of her students with behavior problems to be the leader, and he has 100% stepped up to the job.

"They went and visited all the classes yesterday and spoke about the purpose of the blanket drive, why we're doing it, how we're collecting blankets, you know, the purpose," Adams said. "So, that's the biggest thing, the biggest reason why I wanted to partner with JCMS, was because it gave our students the opportunity to step into the leadership roles."

Adams' fourth grade blanket ambassadors Ma'Leke Ortiz, Jaylin Ridges, Kaiytelyne Willis, Emmanuel Delgado, Quincy Allen and Averi Neal said they're all excited to help the Ukrainian families.

One said it's exciting knowing they're making a big difference, and another related to helping other children.

"I feel happy because you're going to see other kids, other families have a smile on their face so they don't have to be in the cold weather," one student said.

Thomas said the struggles of the last couple of years for Onslow also allowed the students to make connections, what with the pandemic, and the hurricanes.

"We made the connection to what provided comfort, because they were able to embrace we were virtual and we weren't necessarily appreciating it, and they realized, but they see the Ukrainian teachers just trying to gather their students from wherever and meet online, and they made that connection like, we hated it, but he/she is just trying to make sure she touches them wherever they are," Thomas said.

She said they were really just recognizing the gratitude of it all, and that she loves what they've taken and run with in the process.

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Dixon Middle School Kiwanis Builders Club Teacher Advisor Emily Hedrick said as soon as she heard about the drive, she said Builders Club was all in.

Builders Club promotes student leadership and encourages students to get involved in the community, helping those in need.

"Some of my students helped to make signs that were displayed around the building, collection bins were placed in the front office, daily announcements were made, and I posted the information on several area Facebook pages," Hedrick said. "Some blankets were shipped directly from Amazon and others were dropped off by teachers, parents, and students. DMS collected 42 blankets, which I delivered to JCMS."

Hedrick said she knew her students would be happy to help out, and that they understand the severity of what is happening in Ukraine.

"We appreciate the opportunity to help, no matter how simple the task may seem," Hedrick said. "I hope to be able to collaborate with JCMS and other area schools on future projects."

Thomas said the project idea started at the end of February, when the war first started, and that they're still working on figuring out when and how they'll get the blankets into the country.

She said they're still working on recovery of life in the Ukraine, and that the comfort factor will come later.

"So, they're still working on this end, so by the time kids get to schools, get to people's houses, get to wherever they are, they'll have something from American students that says I care," Thomas said.

She said the students have faced some challenges throughout the process, though, and that the biggest thing has been trying to show people the drive isn't about politics, but just children helping other children.

"We talk all the time about their voices being instrumental, because they have a lot to say and it's very intelligent," Thomas said. "But they can be underestimated, and so, because they stood up to do something and not just watch it go by, and their hearts were in it to want to make a change, they really can be the change that we wish to see in the world and other people will emulate them and that's the kind of ripple effect, with people being willing to join them in their efforts."

Thomas said she also hopes the drive will help people understand her and others' jobs as educators, and that teachable moments can happen for them at the spur of a moment.

"I hope that what also spreads is how important we are, and enough of us, I think that we all are hoping we can have an impact on our kids that lasts," Thomas said. "I think the coolest thing about this, is we do. As soon as we direct our hearts and attention to something and help make that connection, then I feel my fellow educators, we've done nothing different than any of our counterparts."

Operation Cozy Care has already collected close to 200 blankets, but Thomas said she'd love for people to come to the school and donate more.

She said those interested can drop them off at 7:30 a.m. when the building opens, or just whenever they can, and there will be a blanket drive at one of the upcoming home games. She said she encourages people to even put a box in their office.

Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Onslow middle schoolers create blanket drive for children of Ukraine