Lions Club donates “Buddy Benches” to MISD elementary campuses
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MARSHALL, Texas – The Marshall Lions Club has donated four “Buddy Benches” to be used at each of Marshall ISD’s four elementary campuses, with the official dedication of each bench held this week.
Representatives from the Lions Club, along with MISD administration and school officials and students, were on hand for pictures during the official dedication of the Maverick-red Buddy Benches.
“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the Marshall Lions Club for this addition to our new elementary school playgrounds,” said MISD Superintendent Dr. Jerry Gibson. “The Buddy Bench is a neat idea that helps foster friendships and communication on the playground, and we are excited to have them for our students at our elementary schools.”
The Lions Club approached MISD back in the fall about the possibility of donating the benches, and the installation and official dedication of each culminated this week. The purpose of a “buddy bench” is to provide a special place on a school playground where a child may go when they want someone to talk to.
When a child feels the need for a friend to talk to, he or she can show this by using the buddy bench. Other children and/or staff will recognize this as a sign that some help, support or comfort is needed and will then come and sit with and talk with the child.
Buddy benches were originally created in 2012 by a fifth-grader at the time, Acacia Woodley. Acacia now speaks at schools all across North America and is the founder and CEO of her own company, ‘Tiny Girl, Big Dream.'”