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KIDS work to make community better




(10/05/2009) By Jeniffer Berry - While most kids were outside, spending their summer playing, a group of fourth and fifth graders in Grand Island were busy raising thousands of dollars for a community service organization they created all by themselves. It is an effort that even won them top honors this year at the State Fair.

It started out as a reading class for a group of high ability learners at West Lawn Elementary. But in less than a year it has become so much more.

"We are a community service group made up of 12 kids and we are just trying to help out," said 6th grader Sierra Bixenmann.

They are a group of 12 kids. That is also what they are called. The letters standing for Kids In Direct Service and that is exactly what they are doing.

"We are trying to be a group that helps all people of all ages," 5th grader Dre' Socha said.

"We just want our community to be better," said 5th grader Kylie Wetzel.

Their first project was raising money to put in playground equipment for young kids at Grace Abbott park.

"Because there really is not any equipment there for toddlers right now, and so we want to get some stuff that would be good for them," said Bixenmann.

Six months ago they picked out the one they wanted and started the long process of raising $14,000 to pay for it.

"It kind of challenges our skills," said Socha.

Working in small groups and as a whole they have learned how to write grant applications, inquired about city code and even unlocked the keys to a successful fundraiser.

"You have got to pick the right fundraiser and the right place and the right time," Wetzel said.

It is a lesson that has paid off. Well, almost. There is no equipment up at Grace Abbott park, but there are smiles on these kids faces for how far they have come.

"$10,750," said Wetzel.

That is how much these 12 kids have raised so far - an accomplishment that is not going unnoticed.

"I was amazed," Socha said.

At this year's state fair 12 KIDS took home two ribbons - first place for a community service project by kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grade and second in the same category age kindergarten through 12th grade.

"I was actually pretty excited about it," said Bixenmann.

"We are 12 kids that have raised that much money. It is pretty cool," Wetzel said.

So is this - the sight of kids working together again this year to finish raising money even when fewer than half still go to the same school.

"They are working around it. We just have to meet at a different time. We have a calling tree. So I just call one person and they initiate the calling tree and everybody gets the message," said 12 KIDS leader Dr. Wanda Stelk.

And the kids said it will work as long as they all remember that message - their mission. We just want our community to be better.

12 K.I.D.S needs to raise $14,000 total. The group is hoping to reach that goal by the end of the year so that the playground equipment can be ready for toddlers this coming spring.

If you are looking for information on where to donate to this organization or just want to follow the KIDS' progress visit: http://www.gips.org/Projects_WestLawn/12KIDS/Welcome.html

Attached Files: 1005kids.jpg 


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