Saturday, October 3, 2026
Children in Franklin Square came together for an evening filled with animal interactions, gentle lessons and powerful messages of empathy during a special presentation hosted by Howie’s Heart and the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, on July 22.
Organized at the Franklin Square Public Library, the event brought children face-to-face with two rescue bunnies — Ollie and Benny — while teaching them how kindness to animals can ripple outward into the world.
The experience was part of Kindness Camp, a four-day summer initiative created by Howie’s Heart, a nonprofit founded by Jen Camacho to promote empathy and inclusion among children, especially those with developmental disabilities.
“It’s about helping kids understand themselves and others,” Camacho said of Kindness Camp. Each day of the camp revolves around a theme — from building self-worth to giving back to the community — and activities often include crafts, storytelling and service.
On the second day, it included learning how to care for vulnerable animals.
Central to the program was Andrea Kominski, a member of the Nassau County SPCA, who introduced the children to the mission of the organization: to investigate cruelty complaints, rescue animals in need and educate the public on proper animal care.
Kominski, who has been with the SPCA for more than three years, gave the children an up-close look at what it means to rescue and rehabilitate animals.
The SPCA is a nonprofit law enforcement and rescue organization dedicated to the welfare of animals. Its officers respond to reports of abuse and neglect, often removing animals from unsafe environments and placing them in foster or adoptive homes.
The children were invited to pet and interact with the animals during the session — an experience that left many of them inspired.
“I learned that bunnies need help, love and care,” said 9-year-old Esther Diaz, who is attending Kindness Camp for the second year in a row.
Last year, she said she was too shy to talk much. This year, she approached the event with confidence. “I kept coming because I felt more comfortable — and I wanted to honor Howie.”
Howie, Camacho’s father and the namesake of the organization, was revered by Camacho and her two siblings, Melissa Cox and James Conklin, for his kindness and compassion toward animals. His legacy lives on through the work of Howie’s Heart, which has been serving the community for over a year.
Another camper, 9-year-old Taya Farkas, said the presentation taught her that animals need “more attention and care.” Already a dog owner, Taya admitted the bunny stole her heart and made her consider getting one herself. She also described kindness as “paying attention and being kind to each other.”
Kindness Camp weaves these simple but profound lessons into each day of programming. The day before the SPCA event, campers read a story about “filling invisible buckets” — a metaphor for emotional wellness — and created cards and care packages for other children. They were each given a book to keep and another to give away, encouraging acts of kindness beyond the camp’s walls.
Camacho said the camp’s goal is to help children “feel like their buckets are full,” while giving them opportunities to fill the buckets of others. Whether through crafts, books or the SPCA’s animal rescue presentation, each moment is designed to foster compassion.
Esther said the camp was more than just fun — it was a place to grow. “It helps you become a kinder person,” she said.
For Kominski and the SPCA, partnering with Howie’s Heart is about planting seeds of empathy that can grow into lifelong habits of care. By bringing rescued animals into these community spaces, Kominski said, the SPCA gives children a chance to see firsthand the impact of kindness and rescue — and to understand their role in protecting those who can’t protect themselves.
