Village Shalom resident Helen Weinstein was recently cited as a “Kindest Kansas Citian” by Prairie Star Elementary School in Leawood, KS. Fourth-grader Lindsay Barash authored an essay about Helen for the school’s annual participation in the citywide “Kindest Kansas Citian” program. Selected from 265 essays submitted by Prairie Star third- through fifth-graders, Lindsay’s was one of 13 winners to be presented at a school-wide assembly. Helen attended the event, along with her daughter, Diane Shultz.

Fourth-grader Lindsay Barash (left) greets the subject of her “Kindest Kansas Citian” essay, Helen Weinstein (center), and Helen’s daughter, Diane Shultz.

Lindsay has befriended Helen through her regular involvement as a volunteer at Village Shalom’s Sunday Bingo games. “Helen lets me pick out the Bingo card,” she said in her essay. “Sometimes she even brings bags of candy and snacks for me and my sisters…When we don’t win, she always says, ‘We will win the next time.’ She always has a smile on her face, even when we lose.”

The 10-year-old concluded her essay by saying, “Helen has taught me so much about how important it is to be nice, helpful, and understanding to the elderly…volunteering at Village Shalom has been a wonderful learning experience. I think Helen is a great person and is so deserving of the Kindest Kansas Citian award.”