Kind Krafts is planning a slime-making activity with Patriot Minds Matter during Mental Illness Awareness Week. Club president and senior Victoria Tejerina hopes to spread positivity in room 266.
Kind Krafts was founded last year with the mission to support the community through crafts and art activities. This club is sponsored by modern world history teacher Kraig Bauer.
Tejerina’s activity is in celebration of Mental Illness Awareness Week, which is a week for combating stigma surrounding mental illness, advocating for change and educating communities about mental illness. With AP and honors classes, extracurricular activities and other commitments, it’s easy for students to be constantly under stress. “We believe art can be a big help in maintaining the emotional wellbeing of our community,” Tejerina said.
Collaborating with Patriot Minds Matter is a step forward to achieve one of Kind Kraft’s goals: expanding its influence. “This year, I would like to see my club make a wider impact in our community,” Tejerina said.
The process of planning for these activities, especially when partnering with other clubs, includes outreach. Kind Krafts secretary and sophomore Emma Toothaker is responsible for the emails and communications for the club. “I really wanted to be able to reach out directly to everyone involved in the club. I can do that by writing in emails and communicating with people,” Toothaker said.
Kind Krafts has done everything from making cards for hospital patients, to writing positive messages with chalk on the school’s sidewalk. All of the activities that Kind Krafts hosts are to be “fun, creative and informative,” Toothaker said.
Members have said that this club gives them an opportunity to have fun while making an impact. Kind Krafts also helps students feel more connected to their peers and the larger school community. “I joined Kind Krafts because I think it’s a really good way to get SSL hours, meet new people and have fun with your friends,” sophomore Erina Shaik said.
Over the last year, this club has centered their events around helping others in need. “The most important part of Kind Krafts is being able to reach out to people in need, people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get proper attention,” Toothaker said.
Tejerina now hopes to connect with other schools to continue growing her mission. “Last year, we mostly focused on making art for Wootton or for the hospital, but this year I would like our club to expand the extent of our impact to other schools, such as elementary ones,” Tejerina said.
Not only is Kind Krafts expanding their activities this year, they’re also building a welcoming culture for members and beyond. “I would recommend this club to other people because it’s a foundation of love,” Shaik said.
This slime-making event is scheduled to take place on Friday, Oct. 10 in room 266 during lunch. If Kind Krafts is not in a partnership with another club, they typically meet once a month on Tuesday, during lunch in room 150.
