Girl's One Stop Shop
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I am a seventh-grader at Inverness Elementary School. I celebrate my birthday each year by throwing a party honoring children that I feel deserves a better Christmas, so I started giving them gifts I collect from my birthday party, businesses, local organizations and community members. When I was 8 years old, I noticed that a girl in my school wore shoes with holes in them. Children made fun of her. I told my mother that I wanted to buy her a pair of new shoes. At that moment, I realized that many other kids were in need of help, too, while every year I was “overwhelmed” with birthday gifts. So I decided that I could put on a smile on my face and theirs by giving my gifts away to youth within my community during the holidays. I did not stop there, after receiving an award from Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, I started a “Girls One Stop Shop” at a local junior high school which gave youth an opportunity to receive personal hygiene supplies for free as needed. Items include sanitary napkins, belts, soap, deodorant, towels, wipes, etc. I keep items stock by soliciting donations from community members and having my friend keep check on items to keep them in stock. School staff members also provides a place in the school for the items and help keep everything organized.