BELTON, Texas (KWTX) – Wednesday is National Volunteer Day, and to celebrate, some Belton ISD students are sharing encouraging messages with the community.

The district launched the Belton Early Years School Happiness Hotline, which plays recorded messages from four- and five-year-old students.

There are a variety of messages, whether you’re feeling a little down, sick, or just need a break. All you have to do is call the number and choose the message you want to hear, including the song “Wish You Well”.

Lyndi, one of the BECS students, sang the song for KWTX.

“We wish you good luck, we wish you good luck, throughout the day today, we wish you good luck.”

“Because when someone’s sick, or they’re not feeling well, that’s how we sing it,” said Alaina, another BECS student.

Courtney Brewer, Deputy Director of BECS, said empathy, communication and perseverance are important Belton ISD traits. Students get to know them from an early age, and this hotline is a way for them to share these messages with others.

“I think kids have a special way of learning that, but also sharing it with our community,” Brewer said. “I think it just builds confidence in them that they know what it means to persevere. They know what empathy means, and they can share that with other people so other people can get through their tough times too.

The Happiness Hotline project is part of a larger Belton ISD goal to focus on service learning. Chris Lemley, social studies coordinator for the district, said kids often feel like the problems in the world are too big for them to solve. However, service-learning shows students that what they do in school matters and can have an impact in the community.

This year, the district launched the BISD Gives Back initiative to support the community, which Lemley says goes above and beyond to help the school. This is an opportunity for campuses to give back with projects like the Happiness Hotline.

“When we have the opportunity for students to reflect on the learning they’re doing and then apply that to a problem they can see in the wider world, it’s a win-win. “, said Lemley. .

The hotline is now operational. You can call 254-677-9200 to listen to messages.

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