For the past 12 years, Robert Blue Middle School students and staff have been celebrating the short life of Aaron Eilerts, a former student at RBMS who lost his life in a tornado that ripped through Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp in June of 2008. Since then, the school has kept the memory of this kind-hearted boy alive by celebrating Aaron Eilerts Day of Service and Giving each year on or around his birthday, Feb. 24. It is an official day declared by Governor Chet Culver in 2009.
In year’s past, RBMS students and staff have done activities that not only spread joy and love to others, but projects that have included the help of other community volunteers – like sewing pillow cases (one of Aaron’s favorite things when he was alive) and packaging meals for the hungry. Unfortunately, neither of those activities, or others like them, can take place this year because of COVID concerns. But RBMS isn’t letting the pandemic stop them from giving back just like Aaron did – because if he were alive today, you can be assured that he would have found a way to make a difference, even if it did have to be while social distancing.
This year’s Aaron’s Eilert Day will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Typically it is a full-day event, but the RBMS staff has decided to cut it back to the last two hours of the day to limit the interaction of students. Typically their goal is to mix students from all four grades (5 – 8) in each session. The “goal behind the goal” of giving back, one could say, is to also have them interact with other students they may not have otherwise met or hung out with. Instead, since COVID is still a concern, kids will be kept more in pods – fifth and sixth graders, and then seventh and eighth graders. They will also only be allowed to participate in two sessions this year.
5 & 6 activities include:
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Making birthday cards for RBMS students
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– Making pet blankets
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– Friendship bracelets
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– Painting kindness rocks
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– Making thank you cards for our healthcare workers.
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– The 5 & 6 graders will also have a presentation on Aaron Eilerts (who he was, what happened, the importance of our day of service and giving) and a question and answer session with some of the staff that were in the building when Aaron was in school a couple of days ahead of Aaron Eilerts Day to prepare them for the day.
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7 & 8 activities include:
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Kindness Rocks – to place around the community when it gets warmer!
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Joybots – going into the care packages for Rotary Ann and Welcome Bags from
last year!
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Thank You Cards – Doctors, Nurses, First Responders, Police, Fire;
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Bookmarks for Local Library
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Birthday Cards – these are given to students at RBMS on their birthdays
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Tie Blankets – for local pet shelters
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Rotary Senior Living Craft Care Bags – given to Rotary Senior Living residents
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Pillowcases for Patriots – these will be given to Mrs. Perry's husband's military unit.
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Aaron figured out very early in life that you get the most joy out of life by bringing joy to others. He touched so many lives with his countless acts of kindness. He spent birthday money to buy material to sew pillowcases and give them to sick children in hospitals. He made blankets for animals in shelters. He cleaned up parks and helped neighbors without being asked. He didn’t do it for recognition, he did it to make people happy, and in return, he was happy too.
Aaron Eilerts Day may not be quite the same this year, but students and staff are happy to still have at least somewhat of an opportunity to carry on Aaron’s legacy…if only in a little way this year. The important thing is, the projects they are doing will make someone else’s life a little bit better.
It’s also not too late if you would like to make a contribution towards these projects. Ideas include one yard donations of fleece; one yard or more donations of 100% cotton fabric in youth print; or monetary donations for other projects. One other option is to perform a Random Act of Kindness of your own on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Let someone cut in front of you in line. Pay for someone’s cup of coffee behind you in line. Send a surprise note in the mail to a homebound person. There are so many ways you can brighten someone’s day.
Be sure to watch the March 5 edition of the “Eagle” for coverage of Aaron Eilerts Day. If you or someone did a Random Act of Kindness in his memory, we would love for you to submit a photo to us as well. Send them to: news@eaglegroveeagle.com.
