Two years ago, Victoria Valentine founded Healing Our Planet (HOP) on the core philosophy that being a good steward of the environment starts with a community built on kindness.

"There's so much we could be doing in the community," said Valentine. "We've got to make this world a better place, and the only way to do it is by working together."

On the fourth Friday of every month, HOP hosts a community gathering at Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, 328 W. Orange St. The monthly program serves as an opportunity for Lancaster County residents to discuss how they can build a stronger support network as a community, in addition to highlighting local environmental projects. Each gathering also includes a talk from one or more guest speakers. On Sept. 25, HOP's program featured guest speakers Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El and Michael Mantooth, Lancaster Clean Water Partners' director of projects and a member of the Conestoga-Susquehannock tribe.

Smith-Wade-El's talk emphasized the importance of showing kindness to everyone in the community, especially those experiencing homelessness. The program also highlighted Hands Up Partners, a nonprofit organization that provides weekly stipends for community members without housing in exchange for work opportunities such as group cleanups in local parks and public areas. "We are dedicated to ending homelessness in Lancaster County," said Valentine, who serves as a member of Hands Up Partners' board. "That's the ultimate goal, but there's a lot we can do to help people in the meantime."

While Smith-Wade-El spoke about the importance of kindness and its role in healing the community, Mantooth's lecture explored the value of kindness when dealing with the natural world. As Lancaster Clean Water Partners' director of projects, Mantooth oversees initiatives across Lancaster County to restore and maintain healthy waterways. Mantooth, who serves as the Conestoga-Susquehannock's tribe historian, also offered a Native American perspective on ecological issues, as well as some of his tribe's cultural practices and connection to the environment. Mantooth discussed the Conestoga-Susquehannock tribe's efforts to receive state and federal recognition, which would allow it to access additional resources needed to revitalize the land.

In addition to HOP's monthly program series, Valentine hopes to partner with local schools to implement various programs and activities designed to foster empathy and inclusion among students of all ages. Activity suggestions include the Kindness Chain Reaction art project, which tasks each student with drawing or painting an act of kindness. The students' artworks are then linked together to demonstrate how kindness can spread. Other suggestions prompt students to observe a weekly or monthly "Random Acts of Kindness Day" or to establish a newsletter to promote kindness in their school and local community. Valentine is also seeking schools interested in partnering with HOP to create "Kindness Clubs" to offer a space for students to suggest their own activities and to work together to bring compassion to the classroom. "So many kids are bullied or made to feel like they don't belong," Valentine said. "We want to create kindness in our schools that will lead to more kindness in our communities later on."

HOP's next program will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, at Community Mennonite Church. Mantooth will return as a guest speaker, and the gathering will feature a talk from Dave Costarella, founder of Hands Up Partners.

For more information, search for "Healing Our Planet" on Facebook or email Valentine at thecirclelegacy@aol.com.