5 million elementary school children call for friendly words

CBS News discovered the ultimate source of inspiration at West Side Union Grade School in Healdsburg, California: a hotline with pleasant words and advice from primary school children. In March, after CBS News reported on the “Peptoc” hotline, the network received up to 60,000 calls per hour from those seeking a boost.

“If you’re feeling down, do what you enjoy the most,” advised one pupil. It inflates you again.

The spontaneously inspiring words of the students were collected and cataloged for the free helpline. Whatever your concern, they have a remedy.

Student: “Go fetch your wallet and spend it on ice cream and shoes.”

“Be thankful for yourself,” says someone else.

West Side Union Elementary School students record words of encouragement for their Peptoc hotline. The CBS News

The idea for the hotline was conceived by professors Asherah Weiss and Jessica Martin. They anticipated that family and friends would enjoy dialing the number, but the tremendous response was “shocked.”

The hotline has received approximately 5 million calls to date, and the number continues to grow.

The children have also established an advice kiosk and are currently writing a book.

A child remarked, “It became a major event.”

“It spread worldwide,” claimed a second speaker.

Martin stated in March, “Adults support children, but we do not recognize how much they support us.” And the ability to be comforted by them offers us immense optimism that perhaps we will all be okay.

You can contact the free hotline at 707-873-7862 if you’re in need of some inspiration.

Michael Hartman

Steve Hartman has been a correspondent for CBS News since 1998, having previously served as a part-time journalist for two years.