Ohio Virtual Academy Students Complete More Than 429 Acts of Kindness Across Ohio 

What started as a goal of completing 250 acts of kindness turned into something much bigger. In just one month, Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA) students completed more than 429 acts of kindness across Ohio through the nationwide United States of Kindness Challenge, demonstrating that learning online doesn’t limit their ability to make a meaningful difference in the communities they call home. 

The challenge asked students of all grades to look for opportunities to help someone else, however large or small, and then to submit those acts through a survey.  

Students from all grades participated. Some acts were small and personal. Other acts included volunteering, helping neighbors or supporting family during difficult moments. Together, those submissions painted a picture of students actively serving the people and communities around them. 

Because OHVA serves students throughout Ohio, the acts of kindness came from communities in all parts of the state. Each submission has been added to a statewide map, creating a visual of where students have made a difference. As the pins continued to appear, the map served as a reminder of how OHVA students are connected to neighborhoods, churches, volunteer organizations and families across the state. 

For a virtual school, that statewide reach is especially meaningful. While students may learn from home, their impact extends far beyond their computer screens and into neighborhoods across Ohio every day. 

The Simple Acts 

Many of the most meaningful acts didn’t require grand gestures. Students helped elderly neighbors carry groceries, mow lawns and complete yardwork. Other students volunteered at soup kitchens through their churches. Some cared for younger siblings while parents worked long hours, cooked meals for their families, or prayed for others. 

One 11th-grade student helped his grandmother with groceries and household chores when she wasn’t feeling well. He also encouraged classmates by reading a poem he wrote and later painted a picture for a teacher after she experienced a loss in her family. 

One student said that they complimented a stranger who appeared to be having a difficult day, and expressed that the encouragement made them both feel better, while another helped a sibling with their lemonade stand.   

None of those acts were grand gestures, which is part of what makes the challenge so meaningful. Students were also not seeking recognition for their acts. They were simply looking for opportunities to make someone’s day a little better.  

Beyond Academics 

The kindness challenge reinforces the idea that virtual learning does not mean that students are disconnected from their communities. Even though OHVA students are completing their coursework online, they are also learning through everyday experiences. The kindness challenge is another way to do so. It encourages them to notice the needs around them and respond in meaningful, practical ways. 

The broad participation from every grade level—and throughout the summer—was one of the most encouraging parts of the challenge because it showed that kindness is not limited by age, grade level or location. 

Connection Through Service 

Although OHVA students learn remotely, initiatives like this help create a shared sense of community. Students are able to see that their classmates across the state are also serving others. 

The statewide map has also helped to make that connection visible. Each pin represents a student choosing to help someone else, and, together, those pins show the impact OHVA students are making across Ohio. 

The response has also shown that students are eager to participate when they are given meaningful opportunities to contribute. Although this started as a summer activity, it is something students want to continue throughout the school year. 

The challenge has helped OHVA students build empathy, practice leadership and strengthen the communities around them. Even though many of the acts were simple, small actions can add up into something much bigger as students continue showing up for one another. 

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