The children are the future!
An 8-year-old Wisconsin girl launched a charity to help children who are experiencing homelessness, Fox News reports.
Peyton is a third-grader who lives in Wisconsin. Inspired by her great-uncle’s struggles, the 8-year-old decided to help those less fortunate. After doing some research, Peyton said, “[She] also learned that there were homeless children and little children that [were] just like [her].”That’s when she decided to do something about it. According to the National Center on Family Homlessness there are 2.5 million children without homes across the nation, to be exact.
“I don’t really like the sound…of that. So I went to my mom, and asked if I could invite 100 homeless children to my birthday party,” Peyton recalled.
Not only did she want to host the birthday party, but she also wanted to give presents to the children in attendance. This sparked her idea for her nonprofit, Eye of a Child, which raises awareness about children experiencing homelessness. It provides money, toys, and other products to homeless shelters around the Milwaukee area and Los Angeles.
Peyton made t-shirts and crayon hearts to sell via pop-up shops in her community to raise money for the gifts. To keep her mission front and center, Peyton emblazoned each shirt with her favorite saying, “Every child deserves to smile.”
She’s received an abundance of support from her community and local businesses who allow her to sell her items in front of their shops. Peyton provided bags filled with hygiene products to Joy House, a local Milwaukee women’s shelter. She also presented the shelter with a $500 check to supply a brand new toy for each child there.
As Peyton prepares for her birthday this year, she still wants to host a party, opening it to the community to drop off donations.
“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,” a statement on her website reads.
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Peyton’s goal is to raise $1,000 for hygiene products and toys for two more shelters, hoping that other children will join in her fundraising efforts to donate to shelters on their birthdays as well.
“Remember, it wasn’t only me. It took a village. If you have a dream, please follow it, don’t give up because you probably can reach your goal, and I believe in you,” Peyton said.
Thank you for the work you’re doing, Peyton! Because of you, we can!
Photo Courtesy of L.Anderson/_eyeofachild