Two Bend students are asking their neighbors to spend Tuesday, October 20, caring for one another. Zaki and Josiah, who contacted That Oregon Life on Sunday, are organizing a student-led Day of Love & Kindness called Bend Chooses Kindness in response to the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. Their invitation extends beyond Bend to anyone who wants to take part.
The students are asking participants to try to spend six hours doing acts of kindness, one hour for each of the six people killed or wounded in the attack, and then invite three others to participate. Bend Police have confirmed that three children and a teacher were killed, while a 7-year-old student and another teacher were injured. The six-hour goal recognizes every person directly harmed; it does not count the shooter among the victims.
Zaki and Josiah say they are reaching out to friends, older student leaders, athletic teams and families to spread the invitation. They describe the day as a way to find connection while their community grieves, with no fundraising goal attached. A thoughtful note, help with a neighbor’s chores or time spent listening to someone could all be ways to take part. The students also recognize that grief looks different for everyone and that some people will need care themselves rather than another request for their time.
The event falls on a day when Bend-La Pine Schools will remain closed to students. Most schools are scheduled to reopen Wednesday, while Silver Rail will remain closed until further notice. Zaki and Josiah hope people who participate Tuesday will encourage others to keep showing up for their neighbors in the days ahead. They are sharing the invitation under #BendChoosesKindness and #SilverRailStrong.
Source note: Details of Bend Chooses Kindness came from an October 18 email sent by organizers Zaki and Josiah directly to That Oregon Life. The police and school district links above confirm the victim count and school schedule. This is a student-led initiative; the district has not announced it as a school-sponsored event.
