Smile

Third-grader creates charity to help homeless children

Published

3 years ago

March 17, 2021

She Who Makes You Smile

Homelessness is a cause that third-grader Peyton is trying to solve at a young age.
The 8-year-old has formed Eye of A Child to help homeless children have needed products and financial help.
Fundraising is in the form of t-shirts and crayon hearts that she makes and sells with proceeds directly given to homeless shelters.

The acts you do leave a lasting impression on children. They get inspired by your examples.

Take 8-year-old Peyton of Wisconsin, who at a young age, is working on helping the homeless children. Her inspiration is her great-uncle who knows the struggles of homelessness well.

From her research, the third-grade student learned that there are little children just like her who are homeless. The knowledge that around 2.5 million American children can possibly be homeless does not sit well with her.

She said she asked her mom if she could invite 100 homeless children to her birthday party where other children can donate their gifts to the less fortunate. Unfortunately, pandemic protocols do not allow this.

So instead of a party, she formed Eye of A Child. Its aim is to raise awareness on homeless children but also distribute toys and other products plus financial help directly to homeless shelters around the Milwaukee area and in Los Angeles.

Peyton sells her homemade crayons and t-shirts in “pop-up shops” to raise funds for the organization which would go to her chosen homeless shelter.

Peyton said, “I do believe every child deserves to smile.” Every shirt carries that message.

And the local community has warmly supported Peyton’s cause with donations and sales of her merchandise.

So, for her birthday this year, she plans on hosting a community party where people can just drop off their donations.

According to the Eye of A Child website: “Instead of having her birthday party surrounded by her friends and family, she has decided to make new friends at various homeless shelters in her local community and empower these children to share this day as a collective celebration.”

Peyton’s dream for the homeless children can be realized through the community’s efforts as she believes it takes a village to fulfill it. It is not just her.