March 19, 2021
Get inspired by all of the amazing things these kids are doing across the country
COVID-19 has hit all of us hard, including the kids. Across the country, many kids have been unable to return to in-person school and can only see their friends in outside gatherings. But kids are resilient, and many of them have not only powered through the pandemic but have come out stronger.
Some have started businesses, others have committed themselves to volunteering. Whether it is supporting those going through COVID-19, memorializing those we have lost or developing products that keep us entertained, the smaller set is making a big difference.
Get inspired by all of the amazing things these kids are doing across the country:
Sewing a Memorial Quilt
Fourteen-year-old Madeleine Fugate took inspiration from her mom when deciding to put together a COVID-19 quilt to remember those who lost their lives. Her mom had worked on the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, and she remembers how healing that was. So she started pulling together a quilt to honor those that had lost their lives to the coronavirus.
Anyone can send in an 8 inch by 8 inch square for inclusion in the quilt. Madeleine hopes that portions of the quilt will make their way into museums, hospitals, city halls, and traveling exhibits to show that the real people behind the statistics of the pandemic.
A Fun Distraction for Kids
When the lockdown occurred, Nicholas' mom said to him, why don't you start a business? Nicholas, 6, decided to sell craft planes. With a love for art, it was a natural fit. He sells DIY craft plane kits in different colors for $16 on his website, Creations by Nicholas.
A portion of each sale going to support the Triple Heart Foundation, which provides books to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) around the country. But for those impacted by COVID-19, the kits are free. Through the Kits for Kids program, Nicholas will send a kit to any kid impacted by COVID-19 (including having family members impacted) or to children of frontline workers.
On the Right Track for a Cure
There is not yet a cure for COVID-19, but Anika Chebrolu, 14, is on the right path to finding one. This Frisco, Texas, native is the winner of the $25,000 3M Young Scientist. Her project originally started as a search for an anti-viral drug for influenza, but then morphed into research on a lead molecule that can bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). She will now work with other scientists to determine if these findings can help develop an antiviral drug.
Reading During Tough Times
Eight-year-old Anaik Sachdev is no stranger to the impact of COVID-19. Both his mom and dad contracted it, as did his grandmother, who ended up in the hospital. During the time when they all quarantined, Anaik and his family found solace in reading books. On his birthday in May he thought, What if there were a way to help others get through this with books?
He connected with the mayor of Phoenix who helped him partner with local Valleywise Health Center to provide books to those in need and called it Loving Library. He started an Amazon wish list full of inspirational books. He receives the books, sanitizes, labels and drops them off at the hospital. He has already provided over 150 books. The patients are able to keep the books they receive and he hopes to eventually expand to other cities.
A Book For Everyone
Like many kids, 5-year-old Wade Williams was having a tough time understanding this scary pandemic, and he wanted to find a way to help kids just like him. So he worked together with his dad to write a children's book called Wade Through the Pandemic to help kids keep a positive mindset even though the coronavirus is impacting their lives. The story details his ups and down from getting a new baby sister to his grandma getting sick with COVID-19.
They hope the book, which is currently a top seller in the new children's books on Amazon, will help kids understand just how resilient they truly are.
The Show Must Go On
When the school musical was cancelled at Thurman White School of the Performing Arts in Henderson, Nevada, Cox helped bring the drama class together to create an animated film. Enlisting the help of Oscar winning director Patrick Osborne the class used cutting edge technology to record their performances and create "Drawn Closer" which will premiere in May.
