8th Annual Kindness Project
The West Hartford Public Library will collect donations for those in need between November 12 and December 13, 2024, at all library building locations as part of our 8th annual Kindness Project.
Inspired by the book Wonder by R. J. Palacio – a story of learning to show compassion and kindness towards others – the Children’s Department at the West Hartford Public Library created the Kindness project in 2017 to help children and adults in the community. The project has grown each year.
Donations can be dropped into specially marked boxes at all three West Hartford Public Library locations: Noah Webster Library (20 South Main street), Bishops Corner Library (15 Starkel Road), and the Faxon Library (1073 New Britain Avenue).
We are looking for the following items:
Items we need (new and unopened):
- Bandages
- Bar Soap (regular size) / Body Wash
- Deodorant
- Diapers (larger sizes 4-7)
- Dish Soap
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Feminine Hygiene supplies
- Hand Lotion
- Hand Sanitizer
- Laundry Detergent
- Lip Balm
- Shampoo / Conditioner
- Socks (new)
- Tissues
- Toilet Paper Rolls (individually wrapped)
- Toothpaste (full size) / Toothbrushes / Dental Floss
Please note: all donated items are to be new and unopened.
Donations will be delivered to the West Hartford Food Pantry and Fern Street Universalist Church Backpack Program. Drop off at any West Hartford Public Library location between November 12 – December 13, 2024.
It started in November of 2017…
Inspired by the book Wonder by R. J. Palacio and its message of compassion and kindness towards others, the WeHa Libraries started The Kindness Project. Thanks to the generosity of our patrons and over a 4 week period in November 2017, our libraries collected over 3,000 items. The Children’s Department involved several local groups of volunteers to decorate “Kindness Cases” which were filled with trial size products and items. These cases were donated, in December, to the West Hartford Food Pantry.
It continued in the summer of 2018, 2019, 2020…
During the summer, our patrons were encouraged to keep the kindness going! The library put together Kindness Project Mission Boards with suggestions such as “Read to a child”, “Pick up trash on the street”, “Teach your parents what you know about social media” and many more. Umpteen families, individuals, adults, teens, and children completed these random acts of kindness throughout the summer. Once completed, they returned to the library to add comments, ideas, and inspirations to the Library’s Kindness Quilt Wall!
Kindness Book Lists
Looking for great books to spread some kindness? In addition to Wonder by R. J. Palacio (the book that started it all!), here are book title suggestions curated by our librarians. Check-out this children’s booklist for a wonderful selection of picture books and chapter books for all levels of readers: Children’s KINDNESS Booklist (as a PDF).