The Lincoln cheerleading squad decided to do what they do best to observe the anniversary of the August 3 attacks on El Paso — they spread cheer and joy throughout the community.
The middle-school team went on a mission to do more than 400 acts of kindness continuing the momentum of El Paso Strong and honoring the lives of those lost in the tragedy.
Initially, they set out to do 23 acts of kindness (one for each of the people who died during the attack), but their efforts and desire to make a difference grew and each girl did 23 of her own and another 23 as a team.
“This project promotes El Paso Strong. It is important for us as a community to continue remembering and honoring the Aug. 3 victims. El Paso our community has always been strong and we want to help keep it that way,” said cheer coach Maggie Ensley. “Many El Pasoans are struggling now because we are all usually so active in our culture. The quarantine has hurts us as a community, and the Lincoln Cheerleaders hope that their small acts start a ripple effect throughout their community.”
Cheerleader Rose Miranda enjoyed the opportunity to get involved and make a difference.
“Seeing others happy makes you feel more positive, knowing that you have made their day better just by a little act, and you feel proud of yourself,” she said.
Among the act the cheerleaders did include making El Paso Strong posters that they posted around their neighborhood, left thank-you notes and treats in the mailbox for postal carriers, took baked goods to police officers, sent flowers to a nursing home, bought groceries for an elderly neighbor, picked up trash at a park, prayed for loved ones, sent thank-you letters to teachers/staff, took donations to an El Paso orphanage, collected suitcases and bought items for children at the El Paso Crisis Center.
“The students embraced this so much because we talked about how we were feeling disconnected due to being at home and how it probably affected others as much or more than us,” Ensley said. “The acts of kindness give the cheerleaders a purpose, a role in life which is also what they are taught at Lincoln Middle – an International Baccalaureate (IB) middle years programme.”
