#ElPasoChallenge: Texas Boy Honors El Paso Mass Shooting Victims With Kindness Challenge by Donna John
After the horrific mass shooting in El Paso, an 11-year-old boy found a way to help his community – and now a nation – heal. Rubin, along with his mom, Rose Gandarilla, started a campaign called the “El Paso Challenge” on social media that is calling for people to spread kindness and give back.
My 11 year old came to me with an idea. #elpasoCHALLENGE He challenges ALL El Pasoans to commit 20 Random Acts of Kindness. One for every person that was killed in our city’s mass shooting. Let’s get this done El Paso. @abc7breaking @kels1142 @YsletaISD @EPPOLICE @elpasoisd pic.twitter.com/pvy5Q9G4f6
— Rose (@rgandarilla99) August 5, 2019
It all started when Rose tweeted a photo of her son holding a sign that said #ElPasoChallenge” and asking people to do 20 good deeds in honor of the victims of the shooting. Rubin even shared some examples of these acts of kindness:
- comforting someone who is sad or stressed
- donating to families in need
- writing someone a letter and telling them how great they are
- mowing someone’s lawn
- taking flowers to the hospital
- visiting a nursing home
- paying for someone’s lunch
"This will show the world that the people from El Paso, Texas, are kind and care for each other," he writes.
People have accepted Rubin’s challenge, and movement has gone viral. Some are even pledging to do 22 random acts of kindness – one for each victim of the mass shooting.
Will you join Rubin’s #ElPasoChallenge? Tell us below how you plan to spread kindness.
Just encountered these two EPPD Officers who stopped to help a stranded motorist! And ran into the street to remove a tire in the process! #elpasoCHALLENGE Thank you for showing kindness! @KFOX14 @EPPOLICE @abc7breaking @KTSMtv pic.twitter.com/8IygkfUTqa
— Rose (@rgandarilla99) August 7, 2019
This 11-year-old Ruben Martinez, created #ElPasoChallenge to challenge El Pasoans to do 22 acts of kindness to honor the 22 victims so far in the tragic shooting. And people he is talking to are all agreeing to do this challenge. #ElPaso pic.twitter.com/5RlSCbubJD
— Tomas Hoppough (@TomasHoppough) August 6, 2019
1. I bought my friends ice cream today. #elpasoCHALLENGE #7ljhpride pic.twitter.com/yhFDcubAiv
— Mr.Curley (@iteachjhscience) August 6, 2019
Thanks to Ruben for inspiring the #elpasoCHALLENGE I’m starting now. 1. I donated blood. pic.twitter.com/Sj6WxqKiGo
— Dawn DuPriest (@DuPriestMath) August 6, 2019
Keeping our bus driver hydrated on this hot day to Convocation! #elpasoCHALLENGE #7Ljhpride @TXCoolPrinc pic.twitter.com/qbgOxbkY9L
— Lisa Akard (@lcra2) August 6, 2019
Canutillo ISD School Counselors have accepted the #elpasoCHALLENGE! We are committed to promoting random acts of kindness on our CISD campuses! @CanutilloISD @PedroGalaviz9 #BeCanutillo #CanutilloEquityandResults #CanutilloGRIT pic.twitter.com/suXuj0OVCv
— Nicole Morales (@canutescounslr) August 6, 2019
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