As third-grader Addisyn Robinson traveled with her mom to the hospital to see her grandfather, she repeatedly saw homeless people on the street. She knew there must be something she could do.
An alternative to putting a roof over their head (her first idea), she talked with her mom and decided to set up Addy’s Warm Heart Donation Drive.
The drive collects coats, hats, blankets, and other cold weather wear.
She plans to personally distribute the winter items to the homeless at Mel Trotter Industry. Her heartfelt donation drive was recently featured on Maranda.
“Addisyn is a bright girl,” said Amy Iwaniw, Addisyn’s teacher at Kent City Elementary. “She always offers great ideas and takes part in classroom activities, so it doesn’t really surprise me that she thought about doing this collection.”
“We’re very proud,” said Addisyn’s mother Rachel. “I felt like it was an opportunity to let her do what we teach our kids every day, to think of others first.”
In addition to organizing collections at area organizations, this caring student rallied her peers by visiting and dropping off a collection box in each third-grade class in her school. The response has been overwhelming at both the school and in the community, with overflowing collection boxes and bins.
“The students are very excited about this idea and are so supportive,” said Iwaniw, adding that she’s been inspired seeing how Addisyn, and other children, want to help others unselfishly. “It shows that children, like adults, can also be influential and set a good example for everyone.”
To those doubting the difference an eight-year-old can make, Addisyn said “…they’re wrong, because eight-year-olds, or anybody, can do anything.”
To make a contribution, drop off new or gently used blankets, coats, mittens, scarves, hats, and gloves at any Design One Salon and Spa location, Hart Enterprises, or CU Answers.
CONNECT
