Khloe Thompson, a nine-year-old from Southern California, is sewing durable bags and filling them with toiletries to give out to homeless women in Los Angeles.
In an interview with Upworthy, Thompson said, “I would pass the same homeless people all the time on my way to school. And I would ask my mom, ‘What can I do to help?'” With the help of her mother, Thompson launched the “Khloe Kares” charity initiative to help some of the most vulnerable citizens in her community. Her first big project to tackle was creating the “Kare Bags.” With the help of her grandmother, Thompson designs and sews each bag that she hands out to the homeless women. The bags are then filled with an assortment of basics, including soap, deodorant, toothpaste, socks, feminine products, and more, before they are hand delivered throughout the community by Thompson and her mother.
Fellow students in Thompson’s school who have heard about her project have been very supportive and eager to get involved. Some of Thompson’s friends have stepped up and donated to her cause and Thompson was even asked to deliver a speech to the whole school. “They thought I was, like, the class superstar,” Thompson told Upworthy of her friends’ reactions to her service project.
Thompson and her mother are working to establish “Khloe Kares” as a registered 501(c)3 charity organization, which will allow them project to reach even more people in Thompson’s community and beyond. Through her GoFundMe page, Thompson has already raised close to $7,000 out of her $10,000 fundraising goal in just one month. All of the funds raised through the page will be used to expand the “Kare Bags” project as well as to create future charity projects.
“No dream is too small or too big,” Khloe wrote on her website. “I want to inspire other kids to be great and to make your mark on this earth.”
According to her GoFundMe page, Thompson already has big plans for the future.
“My next big project will be a toy drive! I want to supply dolls and trucks to kids who live in group homes,”Thompson said. “These kids have not had the same advantages as I have had in life, and I really want to give back and brighten their day.” The toy drive is set to take place on Saturday, July 16th in Anaheim, CA. Thompson will be collecting shoes and toys to be donated to families at the Raise Foundation, an organization based out of Orange County, CA that “is dedicated to preventing and stopping the cycle of child abuse and neglect through education, advocacy, community collaboration, and comprehensive services for families and children.” Thanks to sponsors Taco Bell and Zappos.com, it is sure to be a great day full of giving.
To keep up-to-date with all of the “Khloe Kares” events, make sure to checkout her website www.khloekares.com or donate to her cause at www.gofundme.com/khloekares.
Check out Business Insider’s video on Khloe’s service project here.
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