For the third year in a row, Grade 8 students at St. Anne Catholic School in Blenheim have proven that small acts of kindness—rooted in purpose and love—can create an extraordinary ripple effect in their community.

As part of the Kingdom Assignment project, 45 students were each entrusted with $25 and a mission: to use their gifts, time, and creativity to multiply the money and give back beyond the walls of their school. The initiative, rooted in the Parable of the Talents and launched each year on Ash Wednesday, invites students to reflect on how they can serve others during the 40 days of Lent.

“The Kingdom Assignment has been part of the Chatham-Kent community for 19 years, and I’ve had the honour of leading it for the past four as a Grade 8 teacher,” says Jill Watterworth. “Every year, I’m amazed by what our students can accomplish—with the support of their families and a simple challenge to do good. This project is a reminder to never underestimate the impact one person can make.”

From organizing community events to creating and selling handmade goods, students embraced the assignment with heart and determination. In total, they raised and donated $18,478 to local causes and charities, alongside countless acts of kindness.

A few stand-out projects included:

• Sawyer Schaafsma and Lily Jack, who hosted a dodgeball tournament that raised $1,370 for the Chatham-Kent Hospice.
• Lila Cooper, who baked and sold cookies to raise $770 for the JoLynn Deprez Athletic Fund.
• Zander Foulis, who completed a 25km walk to Rondeau Park in honour of his grandfather and raised $3,710 for Parkinson’s research.
• Liam Irving and Anthony Thompson, who sold homemade gluten-free baked goods, donating $1,780 to Charlotte’s Freedom Farm.
• Hannah Mercer, who was once a patient in the pediatric cardiac unit in London, raised $2,295 through a heartfelt Heart Wall fundraiser.
  
  

Other projects ranged from crafting and baking to bottle drives, Pay It Forward initiatives, and making lunches for peers in need.

“I am so proud of our students—not just for what they raised, but for how they grew,” said Principal Julie Knight. “With just $25 and a heart ready to serve, they took ownership of every part of this project—from baking and budgeting to donating and reflecting. Through their creativity, commitment, and generosity, they proved that when we use God’s gifts with purpose, the impact can ripple far beyond what we imagine.”

The staff and students of St. Anne extend a heartfelt thank you to the community for supporting the Kingdom Assignment over the past three years. Your encouragement continues to inspire a generation of compassionate changemakers.