This week is National Random Acts of Kindness Week, and if you’re in need of some kindness, a pep talk line with nuggets of wisdom from elementary students in kindergarten through sixth grade can help.
The Peptoc Hotline embodies the spirit of kindness to others and to yourself.
In 2022, artists and educators Jessica Martin and Asherah Weiss created Peptoc with students from West Side Elementary in Healdsburg, California, about 110 miles northwest of Sacramento. Since December 2025, the hotline has received more than 25 million calls.
It started with tear-off posters with quotes like “It’s okay to feel sad” and other comforting messages. The posters are made and then hung in a public space.
“I invited Ashera to work with me on a project on empathy and compassion,” Martin, who works at the elementary school, told USA TODAY.
Martin felt inspired to start the project after hearing the children comforting each other at school.
“We were just coming out of the pandemic and the kids had just survived wildfires and evacuations, and I heard them really supporting each other and their incredible advice for each other and for themselves,” Martin said.
It then evolved into the Peptoc Hotline, with pre-recorded life advice from primary school students.
Pre-recorded lines of inspiration from primary school students are designed to support you when you’re frustrated, need life advice, need reassurance about how great you look, and more.
Here’s what you need to know about the hotline and how it works.
Frustrated? Press 1
When people call, they get the students’ advice on what to do if they feel upset.
The advice ranges from telling callers to take three deep breaths and think about what they like, to go buy shoes and ice cream to cheer themselves up, and to do somersaults on a trampoline when frustration sets in.
According to Peptoc’s website, callers also have the opportunity to hear life advice, “children laughing with joy,” pep talks by preschoolers or in Spanish, and bonus advice from students at the school.
The life advice option includes quotes like “be grateful for yourself,” “Don’t give up, persevere,” and “Bro, you look great!”
How can you call the Peptoc Hotline?
To reach the hotline, call 707-873-7862 (707-8PEPTOC). Then press the number to hear the following options:
- For when you’re frustrated
- If you need life advice
- To hear pep talks from toddlers
- To ‘hear children laughing with delight’
- To hear pep talks in Spanish
- To hear “how great you look”
- For bonus advice on what to do when you’re feeling “down”, “hurt” or “deflated”.
Finally, those interested in donating to the hotline can press 0 to receive a link with instructions on how to donate to keep the hotline running.
A pep talk in book form
Curated by Martin and Weiss, “You Are Amazing Like A Rocket: Pep talks for Everyone, from Young People Around the World” features art from children around the world and includes 8 tear-out posters created by students at West Side Elementary.
The hardcover book, which retails for $24.99, can be purchased online or in person at Amazon, local bookstores, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble.
Julia Gomez is a trending reporter for USA TODAY covering popular toys, science studies, natural disasters, holidays and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wait a moment for kindness. This hotline gives you a pep talk from children.
Reporting by Julia Gomez, USA TODAY/USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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