Children certainly have the ability to accomplish amazing things - things like raising funds to build water wells, hosting lemonade stands to assist others, and handing out free bike helmets to keep kids safe. These kids found strength and inspiration through faith and community to make a wonderful difference in their communities.
Silja Bijnagte led an effort to build and maintain a community garden that provides fresh produce to people in need in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her faith community was pivotal to the work.
Miranda Braswell celebrates her birthday by collecting funds, personal items, food, toys and clothing for people in need.
Lucy Barkholz has a heart for serving people and bringing them joy, whether it's visiting a nursing home, praying for others, serving meals or helping in worship services at her church in Maumee, Ohio.
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Lucy Chelton, who won the Food Network's "Chopped Jr." competition by making rattlesnake nuggets, likes to cook for the local food bank with church friends from Christ United Methodist Church in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. "I like the smiles on people's faces when I give them good food," she says.
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Dylan & Jesse Clay built a blessing box in front of their home to provide a place for neighbors to pick up food as well as donate food and items to others.
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Gage Duke, 11 from First United Methodist Church in Rockwall, Texas, started Just Cuz Helmets Matter to distribute free bicycle helmets following a family tragedy. "Where it says 'love your neighbor' in the Bible, I love my neighbor because I help them with bike safety and helmets," he says.
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Chrasel Grace B. Garcera, 9, is amazing in many ways. Honor student. Solo vocal champion. Faithful church member. Chrasel, who attends Bethel United Methodist Church, Poblacion, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, in the Philippines, has achieved her accomplishments despite being born prematurely, weighing only 1.3 pounds, and being visually impaired.
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Jakayla Green authored the book "Daddy's Girl" after navigating a tough time in her life: her parents' separation. She helps other kids cope and heal.
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Will Green was inspired through VBS at Hilton United Methodist Church in Hilton, New York, to raise funds to build a well in Nicaragua. He then got to visit the community where it now provides clean water.
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Ollie Harr has given his own toys to kids in need and given Christmas gifts to families in the NICU where he spent time as an infant.
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Abbigail Henderson of Grace United Methodist Church in Auburn, Alabama, was born with a heart intent on giving, as evidenced by the way the 8-year-old sees a need, then finds a way to contribute.
Ronyn Kelley asked her congregation at First-Centenary United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to donate food to the local food bank in honor of her birthday. She delivered enough food and funds to provide 360 meals!
Kalee & Kenzie Hinkson lead an annual donation drive to provide cuddle bears and books for 300 kids who are hospitalized and under treatment for cancer.
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Brooklynn Kilgore, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is always helping. She hosts lemonade stands to aid veterans, knits collars for rescue dogs and gathers items for kids in foster care.
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Samuel Kratohwill from First United Methodist Church in Richwood, West Virginia, is a pastor in the making. From the first day that the 8-year-old walked into the church with his dad, the youngster has been eager to participate in all aspects of the congregation, from helping with communion, leading singing, assisting with the offertory and giving the Benediction.
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Sophie & Abby Kreft and Claire Serold from Dallas, Texas, came together to host a lemonade stand so that they could support a program focused on transforming the community. Learn more.
Nathan Murray inspires his congregation at Poteau First United Methodist Church in Poteau, Oklahoma, through his deep commitment to his faith. He has become a key part of the worship team as liturgist and acolyte.
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Marley Jane Musser requested bags of pet food for a local animal shelter instead of birthday gifts for the last two years and plans to make it an annual tradition.
Kaden Newton was so inspired by the message of "Treat others the way you want to be treated" that he heard at First United Methodist Church of Rockwall, Texas, that he stared Mac & Cheese and Pancakes, a nonprofit that has provided more than 46,000 pounds of kid-friendly food to North Texas food banks. "It makes my heart happy," says Kaden.
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Warrick Quarry has been a pint-sized member of the music program at Poteau First United Methodist Church in Poteau, Oklahoma, since he was four. A step stool and a passion for music have made him a key choir member.
Rachel Ritchie spent five years gathering donations to build an all-access playground in Vine Grove, Kentucky, so that everyone could have fun together. Her congregation supported her work.
Sean Santellan turned "trash to toilets" when the 6-year-old joined in his church's capital campaign for renovations by collecting recyclables. Sean picked up plastic bottles and cans in local parks and waterways, earning more than $300 in six months, enough to purchase two new toilets for the bathroom remodel at Napa Methodist Church in Napa, California.
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Grant Skelton runs his own foundation, Granting Grace, which identifies people in need and makes sure they receive help. He partners with local law enforcement and Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
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Kayla Smith supported the Diaper Angels program at Jerome United Methodist Church in Plain City, Ohio, by collecting 28,000 diapers for families in need in lieu of birthday gifts the past two years. She plans to continue.
Lindsay Stanfield of Dalewood United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to spend her summer vacation helping others and learned that she could still have a good time along the way.
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Emily Trumbature gives without reservation. She helps in her school, offers food to hungry strangers and even gave her bike to a child in need at Christmas.
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Marlee Whitlock was inspired by The Garden Community United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, to change the world by selling bracelets to raise funds for an Ethiopian school. She was adopted from Ethiopia as an infant.
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This article was originally published on October 9, 2017, on UMC.org.
