LEADERS OF TOMORROW SHOW KINDNESS

The Leaders of Tomorrow at May Greene Elementary School decided flowers, planted in the shape of a heart, would help the school entrance look a little nicer.

So the youngsters stayed after school Thursday to complete the task, another in a series of kind deeds the boys did during the week, explained Dustin Hency.

Leaders of the Tomorrow, a boy's club at the school, was started this year to give young men at the school an avenue for service, said Nicole L. Rouviere, who coordinates the project.

"It's about being successful and helping other people," said Terrance Smith.

"We want to show everybody we care," said Tony McGuinn.

The flowers were planted in a heart shape because May Greene is the school with heart, said Darrell Haynes.

Matt Cowan added that this week also kicks off an adopt-a-block clean-up project that will continue throughout the year.

During the week, the boys baked cookies for police officers and teachers, Darryl Bird said.

Chris Payton explained that police officers "protect the environment and the school and they don't want people to fight or smoke." Teachers, he added, "support us, and we're going to look back and say they really helped us."

They also handed out kindness stickers and heart pins to every student at the school. Club members made 250 heart pins.

Throughout the year, Leaders have participated in other service projects. Tyrone Wade, for example, planted flowers during Friends of the Parks day. The group worked at Indian Park.

At the beginning of the year, the boys set a goal to take a trip to St. Louis. To meet that goal, they had to raise some money. Darrell Haynes reported that the group has $537.10, which is enough to take the trip to the zoo and the Science Center.

"We set a goal and reached our goal," said McGuinn.