The Leaders Readers Network’s 2025 Gratitude Service Project
In classrooms supported by Literacy Fellowship Educators, students engaged in The Gratitude Service Project, a transformative initiative designed to deepen their understanding of gratitude while enhancing their literacy skills. Through reflective writing, creative projects, and heartfelt expressions of thanks, students uncovered the profound power of gratitude and its ability to strengthen relationships and foster a sense of community. This service project includes activities such as writing thank-you letters, creating posters, and brainstorming acts of kindness.
This impact extends beyond the students who participate, as educators found renewed appreciation for their school staff, often collaborating on creative ways to spread gratitude throughout the campus. Through The Gratitude Service Project, students and teachers alike discover the impact of sharing thankfulness among their communities. This initiative serves as a powerful reminder that even small acts of gratitude can inspire lasting change, creating stronger, more compassionate communities for generations to come.
Our educators have shared meaningful stories about why these kind of projects are important:
“Our gratitude project isn't based on hours - It's year long. We honor a staff member every Monday when we do Celebrate Monday. This shows our gratitude for that staff member and appreciation for all he or she does. As the year goes on we celebrated again on World Kindness Day which was November 13th. I read the amazing book which you donated The Thank You Letter and we talked about why the kid was writing thank you notes, how did she feel, etc... The kids made cards to show our appreciation for our staff by surprising them with a card on their car:) We made about 3 cards each then in the afternoon put them on ALL the vehicles in the parking lot. Lastly, I made each of my kids a word cloud that was unique to him/her. This showed how much I valued each of them and celebrated each of their unique qualities.” – Melisa Hayes, Hilliard Crossing Elementary, Hilliard City School District
“We had a school-wide Countdown to Thanksgiving with a Gratitude wall outside of our school gym. In the morning on my way to pick up my class I had a student stop to let me know I hadn’t moved the marker over for the countdown yet that morning and then I overheard two students from another class planning to write a thank you note to their teacher. I loved seeing and hearing students using the acts of showing gratitude independently without prompting from a teacher.” – Heather Leverett, Reeves-Hinger Elementary, Canyon ISD
“Our gratitude service project was truly an exceptional moment in our classroom—one that blended literacy, community, and heartfelt connection in the most meaningful way. We began by reading a book about thank-you letters, a story that immediately captured the students’ attention. They were completely drawn in by the idea that simple words of appreciation could brighten someone’s entire day. As we discussed the book, the students eagerly shared times when someone had shown them kindness and how it made them feel. This project wasn’t just an activity; it was a moment of connection, joy, and empathy. It reminded all of us how meaningful gratitude can be when shared.” – Morgan Mercado, Dr. Raphael A. Baranco Elementary, Lafayette Parish School System
Visit this link to learn more about how you can get involved.
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