Inspired by Stars

This year, we shared the stories of amazing kids who are making positive change in their communities. These Kids of the Month inspired our readers to take action too—and to tell us about it! Thank you for sharing your service stories with us. We can’t wait to hear about what you do next.

You Connected with Kason

Readers connected with Kason Creed’s winning effort to make his local playground more inclusive. Here’s Kason (above) surrounded by mail from a third-grade class in Pennsylvania. “He was beside himself when he was reading all these,” Kason’s grandmother Pam told TIME for Kids. “I’m so proud of this young man.”

We received more reader emails about this issue of TIME for Kids than any other this school year. “I thought it was so cool that Kason Creed went to his city council,” Alaina wrote. Felix “really liked how Kason was able to express his feelings to the world.”

Reece told us about her family’s experience with accessibility issues: “My dad is in a wheelchair too,” she wrote. “He does not have equal access to a lot of different things that able-bodied people might have, such as parking spots, park paths without ramps, and even different bathrooms. . . . I love that there are people like Kason Creed who try to help.”

Jordyn Moved You to Action

Jordyn Perez’s mission to donate toys to kids at a hospital led readers to help heal their own communities. “I came across the article,” wrote Madeline, a fifth-grader. “I want to give my hair to an organization that makes wigs (maybe several!) for children that have cancer.” (You can do it, Madeline!)

“We were so inspired by Jordyn Perez,” wrote Ms. Sequeira, a fourth-grade teacher in Florida. “My students wished to also make a difference in their community! They started brainstorming ideas on how they could have a positive impact.” Three students—from left: Abby, Bailee, and Annie—decorated trash bins with poetry about fighting litter. Others did a cleanup during recess.

You Teamed Up, Like Joy

Joy Kochar wanted to address a problem at her school: Spotted lanternflies were invading her school’s courtyard. But she couldn’t do it alone. She teamed up with 10 of her classmates. Together, they raised their voices (and almost $200).

After publishing Joy’s story, we heard from lots of you who teamed up to make a difference. “I gather my family and friends to help pick up the trash,” a student named Mia wrote. “Even though it doesn’t seem like a lot, it helps a lot! A little teamwork can go a long way!” Another student, Lyann, had a similar thought: “We should all work together.”

In Illinois, students (right) formed a service club. They’re “passionate about making a difference in our school, in our community, and in our world,” wrote their teacher, Ms. Walters.