Brotherly Love: Planting The Seed Of Generosity In Kids
By Ukee Washington
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Local children are getting lessons in charity from a Montgomery County non-profit. We caught up with some of the children at Montgomery Mall, children ranging in age from pre-school to middle school spending an afternoon creating joy for people in need.
"It's helping other people. It's doing the right thing," said 10-year-old Joshua Fayette.
The charity is called The Giving Tree. Founder Bridget Leary explains, "It's an educational opportunity for the kids."
The children get a variety of projects to work on. The main goal is to teach children about charity.
"We have baskets that go to families that have moved from shelter to independent living. We have snack bags that go to our local food pantries. We have our card-making stations with our letters to the military. We have letters, cards that we make for seniors," Leary said.
There are also gifts from children to children. The children start with an empty cereal box, fill it with crafts and toys like Play-Doh. Adult volunteers wrap the boxes in white paper, then the children decorate them. The colorful gifts go to children in shelters and hospitals. Leary calls them Peace and Smile Boxes.
"If I was cooped up in the hospital all day of cancer, I mean, it wouldn't be fun," said Joshua.
"They get that it's more than a box of crayons," said Leary. "They've placed empathy in a box and they've wrapped it up."
The stations are designed so even the smallest kids can help.
"It's not that hard," said 12-year-old Jack Ventresca, "just putting these things in pencil cases, cereal boxes."
"And we're giving them stuff so they can be happy," said Emi Fox, age nine.
The Giving Tree is all-volunteer. Any monetary donations go to buy more supplies and spread more love.
The Giving Tree is hosting an event Saturday, November 8 at Wissahickon Middle School, 500 Houston Road in Ambler, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested, but not required.
For more information, visit: http://givingtreefamilies.org/
