Today's Article

"Puzzles, like drawing activities, Legos."

Not just toys and games — "I guess they're just Duffy's" — but also a message of hope and 1resilience.

"2Smokey the Bear — it, like, 3puts out fires and everything."

"Fire is no fun. We have all been through the fire — it’s so scary — but the best we can do is try to 4move on."

Every year, second graders at Eldorado PK-8 in Superior come up with a project to help others.

"It's a 5unit where we're studying how kids can use their voice and their actions to change the world."

This year, Laura Vigil's class had a big idea.

"When we started the unit is when the fires 6broke out in L.A., and we experienced a fire three years ago, and during that time, we were just kind of 7forced back into school. Fast forward to now—we wanted to 8repay, or 9pay it forward, to L.A. We thought it would be awesome for them to know that there's hope after a fire."

The Marshall Fire forever changed this school community, and students knew exactly what kids 10recovering from the L.A. fires would need.

"They just started 11brainstorming, and they came up with really, really creative stuff. We kind of 12narrowed the list down, and we created a 13comfort corner from Colorado."

Kids like Charlotte — “This one says 14BFF” — and Mason — “We hope you will like our 15cozy corner.”

They spent a lot of time thinking what kids their age would want.

"We tried to make it good."

And the messages they hoped to share.

“Kids can make a change. And it’s so nice for them to have an 16authentic experience with that — and that ‘pay it forward.’ If you can help other communities, pay it forward.”

"We hope you like it. We care about you, and we hope this will make you smile."