Fountain of Kindness helps children in the community get ready for school
Fountain of Kindness, a local organization, has begun its annual School Supply Drive to help give necessary school supplies to children in need.
In 2018, Fountain of Kindness was formed to address the needs of the rapidly growing Jewish community in Great Neck. The founder of Fountain of Kindness, Melody Aziz had a vision to spread kindness and encourage others to do the same.
Since its start in 2018, Fountain of Kindness has made a difference in the Jewish community and beyond. With the help of volunteers and supporters, the organization has created gift baskets for hospitalized children, supplied meals to hospitalized patients and their families, helped fulfill the wishes of sick children, and more.
“We like to bring the community together to spread kindness to people going through hardship. So whether it’s people in the hospital, someone who passed away, people that need help paying for fertility treatment and families in financial need,” said Aziz. “Whatever the hardship is, we try to help in any capacity that we can.”
Aziz shared that Fountain of Kindness started with three people and has expanded to about 600 dedicated volunteers. While Great Neck is where the organization began and grew, it has expanded to helping people all over New York.
“We’ve helped families in Queens, Brooklyn, New York City, Far Rockaway, West Hempstead, Plainview, Port Washington, and Roslyn,” Aziz said, listing just some of the places Fountain of Kindness has reached.
With families getting ready for the school year, Fountain of Kindness has announced its annual School Supply Drive. The drive has a variety of ways for people and families to participate. People can sponsor a backpack, receive a list of supplies, and organize a backpack full of new supplies for a child in need. Some donate money specifically for school supplies that Fountain of Kindness volunteers will use to fill a backpack, and some people or groups can organize a drive to support Fountain of Kindness.
“If someone wants to host a drive where they invite their friends to come and bring stuff, that would be wonderful,” said Aziz. “The more we get, the more the families benefit.”
Supplies such as notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, erasers and supply boxes are just some of the necessities children need for school. Although donations at the start of the school year are helpful, supplies must be restocked throughout the school year.
“Even during the school year, we’re collecting because people always need to replenish their supplies. We’re constantly collecting,” said Aziz.
To receive additional support to provide services, meals and products to families in need, Fountain of Kindness hosts fundraisers throughout the year, such as Sweat Box Teens and CPR Classes. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, Fountain of Kindness is hosting its third annual Sweat Box Teens, a teen outdoor workout class led by an instructor. And on Tuesday, Oct. 17, the organization is hosting a CPR Class, where an instructor will teach infant, child and adult CPR.
With the money received from the Fountain of Kindness fundraisers, the volunteers are able to purchase meals for families, toys for children, and care packages for people in the hospital.
When you browse the Fountain of Kindness on Facebook or Instagram, you see a lot of pictures of children putting baskets and packages together to donate. Fountain of Kindness helps teach children the importance of giving to those in need.
Fountain of Kindness thanks Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (District 10) for her continued support and her partnerships to host drives for the community.
To learn more about Fountain of Kindness or to get involved, visit fountainofkindness.org or follow them on Facebook (Fountain of Kindness) or Instagram (@fountainofkindness)
