Kid smiling in front of bags that are to be donated

Orion helps organize donations of food.

Courtesy of family

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Kindness Is His Superpower

When Orion Jean sees people in need in his community, he races to help out . . . with kindness.

November 22, 2021
By Kathryn Satterfield

As You Read: Identify two reasons that Orion likes to help others.

Last Thanksgiving, Orion Jean felt especially thankful. The 10-year-old from Texas had set a goal. He wanted to donate, or give, meals to people in his community of Dallas who were food insecure.

He called his plan Race to 100,000 Meals. Orion worked with a local group called TangoTab to spread the word. The response was incredible. People from across the country gave food and money. In the end, Orion was able to donate 100,954 meals to help others!

“I was so happy that the country was able to come together for a goal, because the need is so great,” Orion says. 

Last Thanksgiving, Orion Jean felt very thankful. The 10-year-old from Texas had set a goal. He wanted to give meals to people in his community who were food insecure.

He called his plan Race to 100,000 Meals. Orion worked with a group called TangoTab to spread the word. The response was incredible. People from across the country gave food and money. Orion was able to donate 100,954 meals! 

“I was so happy that the country was able to come together for a goal, because the need is so great,” Orion says.

Race to Toys

This wasn’t the first time Orion took steps to make the world a better place. In July 2020, he won $500 in a national contest by giving a speech he wrote about kindness.

“I talked about how important it is to spread kindness and make people feel loved,” Orion says.

Orion turned his words into action. He started the Race to Kindness campaign to help others.

Using his prize money, he bought $500 worth of toys. He added them to the ones he gathered in a drive he called Race to 500 Toys. Then he donated them all to patients at a children’s hospital in Dallas. 

This wasn’t the first time Orion took steps to make the world a better place. In July 2020, he gave a speech about kindness. He won $500 in a national contest.

“I talked about how important it is to spread kindness and make people feel loved,” Orion says.

Orion turned his words into action. He started the Race to Kindness campaign.

Using his prize money, he bought $500 worth of toys. He gathered other toys in a drive he called Race to 500 Toys. Then he donated them all to patients at a children’s hospital.

Courtesy of family

Orion helps organize donations of food. 

Race to Books

Orion also loves to read. He thinks he has read nearly 3,000 books himself! He wanted to help families that can’t afford to buy books or live far away from libraries.

“Books have truly changed my life,” Orion says. “I want more kids to have that experience.”

Last May, Orion launched a drive called Race to 500,000 Books. With the help of many people, the drive was a success. Orion has helped give away the donated books at free book fairs in Texas and Oklahoma. He hopes there will be more free book fairs soon in other states. 

Orion also loves to read. He thinks he has read nearly 3,000 books! But some families can’t afford to buy books or live far from libraries. Orion wanted to help.

“Books have truly changed my life,” Orion says. “I want more kids to have that experience.”

Last May, Orion started a drive called Race to 500,000 Books. It was a success. Orion has helped give away the books at free book fairs in Texas and Oklahoma. He hopes there will be more free book fairs soon.

Courtesy of family

Orion looks through some of the books donated to Race to 500,000 Books. 

Keep Kindness Going

What’s new with Orion? He’s written a book called A Kids Book About Leadership. In it, Orion points out that it’s easy to be kind. It feels good too.

“I’m hoping that what I’ve done inspires people to be kind in their own communities,” he says. “A lot of things can be fixed by simply being kind.” 

What’s new with Orion? He’s written a book called A Kids Book About Leadership. In it, Orion points out that it’s easy to be kind. It feels good too.

“I’m hoping that what I’ve done inspires people to be kind in their own communities,” he says. “A lot of things can be fixed by simply being kind.”

What Orion Wants You To Know About Kindness

Courtesy of family

There are many ways to be kind. It can be as easy as holding the door for someone or just giving a person a compliment. 

You don’t have to do something huge. Even donating a few cans of your favorite food to a food bank makes a difference. 

 

Pictured: Orion and his family

 

What Orion Wants You To Know About Kindness

Courtesy of family

There are many ways to be kind. It can be as easy as holding the door for someone or just giving a person a compliment. 

You don’t have to do something huge. Even donating a few cans of your favorite food to a food bank makes a difference. 

 

Pictured: Orion and his family

 

1. What does the word donate mean? What are some things that Orion has donated? 

2. What does the author mean when she writes that Orion “turned his words into action”? 

3. What is Orion’s book about, according to the article? 

1. What does the word donate mean? What are some things that Orion has donated? 

2. What does the author mean when she writes that Orion “turned his words into action”? 

3. What is Orion’s book about, according to the article? 

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