In 2021, local civic engagement group Mitzvah Moms launched a new branch of the organization called Mitzvah Kids. The program, which meets once a month in Strasburg, seeks to equip children between the ages of 5 and 11 to impact their community in a positive way.

As a part of the program, each child is offered opportunities to take on leadership roles, discuss important issues and become involved with different service organizations in the area. The parents of the Mitzvah Kids members help to pick service work projects, which are then spearheaded by the kids. Every time the group meets, a different member shares a project that he or she has been working on to address a specific issue in the community. For a previous project, kids discussed Church World Service and the variety of challenges that refugees around the world face.

For the latest meeting, Nichole Madonna and her kids worked on a project to shed light on the many struggles faced by families with an incarcerated family member. Madonna first got the idea for the project when she attended a performance at the Ware Center with her family and witnessed a demonstration from Ambassadors for Hope. The mission of Ambassadors of Hope is to support children with incarcerated parents in Lancaster.

"We talked with the founder, and I feel in love with the idea of supporting them," said Madonna. During the Mitzvah Kids' meeting in January, the children worked on a craft using watercolors and tissue paper to create a tie-dye effect. The paintings were then auctioned off on Facebook so that those purchasing them could give the crafts as gifts for Valentine's Day while supporting Ambassadors for Hope.

After making the crafts, the group read and discussed a few books to learn about the lives of those who have an incarcerated parent. "It opened up a lot of discussion about the prison system in America," said Madonna. "I was blown away by how much they discussed and how much they already knew. The kids asked so many questions." The group also discussed how Ambassadors for Hope helps families and what the funds raised from the projects would be used for. With a $35 donation, Ambassadors for Hope sends a social worker to visit the incarcerated parent and record a message with the parent's voice. The recording is then placed inside of a teddy bear and given to the child.

"I love the community aspect of the group. A bonus to being in Mitzvah Kids is having a safe space to have these conversations," said Madonna. Mitzvah Kids is always accepting new members. For more information, visit https://mitzvahkidsrock.weebly.com.