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Please describe how you have helped others.
I had an idea to make blankets for chemotherapy patients. My Aunt Renee had cancer and was cold during her treatments. I asked my friends at school and in my neighborhood if they wanted to help. I went with my mom and Aunt Renee and picked out the fleece fabric. My friends came over to my house and made 10 blankets for the chemotherapy center. We washed the blankets, tied them with ribbon and placed a special tag on each one. I then brought them to church and had them blessed. Then we delivered them to the nurses at the center. After being on the news, I have received over $300 in donations. I am planning to make more blankets soon for dialysis patients next!
How long have you been involved in this effort? Please include a start date and end date if applicable. When and how often do you volunteer?
I had the idea in January, and made the blankets in February of 2010. My next blanket making is planned for June 26th. I will be making blankets when I have enough donations to buy more fleece.
What was the outcome? For example, funds raised, the number of coats collected for needy kids during winter, the number of community members who supported your cause, etc.
I had 10 girls, and my sister and brother volunteer to help make the blankets. We made a total of 10 blankets so far. We received over $100 in donations for the first set of blankets. Since then, I have received $315 more in donations. I bought enough fleece to make 12 more blankets for dialysis patients. I would like to continue this if I get more money.
Why did you decide to volunteer your time?
I decided to do this because my Aunt has cervical cancer. When she was going through chemotherapy, she was really cold. I thought to do this because I didn’t want her to feel cold anymore and to help the other ladies to feel warmer too. I wanted to make them happy when they were sick too.
What have you learned from this experience?
I have learned that it is nice to help others. When I do something nice for them, it makes me feel good inside too. I also learned that you are never to young to do something important. Just because of my idea, I not only helped the chemo patients, but I touched many other people. Lots of people told me that this was a really special thing that I did.
If you win the $1,000 charitable contribution, how do you plan to spend it helping the community?
If I win the money, I plan on spending it to buy more fleece and ribbon. I would like to bring the blankets to dialysis patients, to more chemotherapy patients, to people who are sick or have diseases, to the health center at the convent and to Haiti.
What advice do you have to share with other kids who are interested in spreading happiness through community service?
I would tell them helping others makes you feel just as good as the people you are helping. You just have to start with an idea!
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