1 shirt, 1 child, 1 month

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I heard this girl get up and talk about the idea she had, then I watched her video, looked at the Facebook page and finally read the blog where she explains the idea like this…

“My name is Emma Dryden and I am a sophomore at Zeeland East. My family recently adopted two boys from Ghana, Africa. I was given the opportunity to go and bring them home. While I was in Ghana I was struck by the extreme hunger in children. It’s my dream and goal to help feed starving kids in Africa. This year I would like to give students at East and West the opportunity to give to children in need. By purchasing a t-shirt for $45 you can feed a hungry orphan for one month.”

 

So basically she came up with the idea to take something she normally has (dressing up for a dance) and giving it up so kids can have food. I love it because it’s simple. She saw a problem and created a solution.

Instead of wearing her dress to her high schools dance she made some t-shirts with different designs to wear and invited her classmates to do the same. Her idea was to give up the cost of the dress and instead take the money and give it to children in need. The t-shirt cost $45 which, cost to make the shirt included, is enough to feed a kid in Africa for a month (hence 1shirt1child1month). I love the idea but also like that the t-shirts look good so they can be worn more than once which will keep spreading awareness towards Emma’s cause.

What is especially cool is that Emma is trying to spread the word, get this into other schools, and invite others in on her idea. If what she’s done inspires you be sure to share it with your high school, teachers, YL leaders and anyone who might be interested in this!

For more information or to order a shirt (you don’t have to be in high school or have a dance to go to in order to buy a shirt or give to the cause) visit their Facebook page or email 1shirt1child1month@gmail.com

My Top Ten of 2012: #7 Camp Rock

#7 Camp Rock

I met with Todd, the head of Camp Rock, and we talked it through. They had a need and things at the Rescue Mission weren’t moving along as planned. A day after our meeting I agreed to shift my responsibilities and money raised to work at Camp Rock for the summer. The last thing to talk over was which group of kids to work with. Todd gave me the opportunity to have a voice in where I would go.  I pointed out my experience being mainly with high schoolers and some middle school but told him I would go where he needed me. Come to find out they had enough staff to help out with the high schoolers (there were usually only 15 or so who showed up). The middle schoolers were pretty set as were the 3rd-5th graders. I put my best face to prove I was a cool go with the flow type of guy but really I knew what it meant.

Kindergarten-2nd grade.

As a younger twenty year old guy I wouldn’t have described myself as a kid person. I’d never had a little sibling or neighbor or anything. I felt completely incapable. I was nervous. My plans, as they often do, were completely flipped around. The summer was planned to be spent focusing on community development with churches, rehabilitation programs and helping grown men find jobs. Instead I was with toddlers on playgrounds, going on field trips, laying around in the shade of trees on sunny days or sitting next to an old fan watching Madagascar and explaining questions about what the penguins were doing. I was worried they wouldn’t like me or I wouldn’t be fun for them or wouldn’t be able to calm them down when they started crying in big hyperventilating gasps. Without much of a transition case management was traded in for bear hunts in the woods and job training for lifting tiny bodies into the sky like airplanes. Summer turned into time spent with little kids who have weird little lives. They are entirely confused and ask when lunch is about a thousand times a day. Their hands, which they are always insisting you hold on to tightly, are always sweaty, they tell you when they are about to pee their pants and we run to the bathroom. They would rather feel your muscles or be picked up and spun around over and over than have anything else the world has to offer. Someone is always needing a hug or a hand to hold when walking places, they are scared of weird things and need someone to console them when they are afraid. To cup their tiny bodies up in arms and whisper little words in little ears how everything is going to be okay and make them feel protected.

#7 was a change of plans I am very glad for. It was a great way to learn something about myself, and little the little kids I learned I have a heart for, and what I’m capable of. Giving little kids attention and love they need. Learning each and every one is a special little being and is worth treating so.

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