Trinity Catholic’s ‘kindness cards’ give school a good name

By Mairgread Gray
CFP Correspondent

SOUTHBRIDGE – They are for practicing random acts of kindness, said Josie Citta, principal of Trinity Catholic Academy, about their “pay-it -forward” cards.
The school also has “word-of-mouth” cards – but more on those later.
The idea for the pay-it-forward cards came from Melissa Hilli, a pre-school aide and real estate agent  in town.  She told how one day last year she was at the Dunkin’ Donuts drive-through when someone gave her a card.
“This person had purchased a coffee for me.  I got the idea then for our cards.
“It’s a nice way to let someone know you just want to do something nice for someone.  And, it’s a nice way to put the name of the school out there,” Ms. Hilli said.
She has been at Trinity for about eight years.  She began when her daughter was in kindergarten and her son was in the second grade.

“A lot of people have never heard of us (Trinity).  They ask – ‘Where is that?’ Ms. Hilli said.
Trinity Catholic Academy on Pine Street is a school for pre-kindergarten through Grade 8.
Mrs. Citta explained that the pay-it-forward cards can be used at any drive-through,  such as McDonald’s or Burger King.  They can also be used at sit-down restaurants such as Applebee’s. For example, at the drive-through, you just say ‘I want to pay $1 or $2 for the person behind me,’ and give the card to the person at the window to give to the next person in line.  Or, if you are in a restaurant, you can say to the waitress: “I would like to pay $5 for the family across the aisle.”
Mrs. Citta said these random acts of kindness are good exposure for the school and a nice thing to do.
“Christianity is not dead.  It is alive and well.  It’s something nice to do for other people – to show kindness – what we need in the world,” she said.
Any adults – parents, teachers and friends – connected to the school who want the cards may get them in the office.
Now, for the word-of-mouth cards – parents can give them to another parent with children in line at the grocery store, for example. The Trinity parent or teacher can say: “This is where my kids go to school.”
Mrs. Citta said these cards came about when the school polled pupils in Grades 5 through 8 asking them what they liked about Trinity.
“We took their ideas and put them on the back of the cards.  There were so many good things, we needed two cards.”
Some of the things the pupils liked are: Trinity Catholic Academy – A place where: Faith can be shared freely; Teachers are helpful, understanding and friendly; Academic standards are high; and Athletic programs are strong.
Now they can pay-it-forward and pass the word about their school.