Homemade Crafts for Sale: Kawai family kids

When my two daughters heard about the needs of orphans in Bulgaria, they came up with an idea to help.  My oldest daughter had recently learned at a church activity how to make small, paper boxes that can be used for small gifts or store jewelry. She decided that making the boxes in fun colors and selling them would be a fun way to invite her friends to help make a contribution to the orphans in Bulgaria. She asked her grandpa if she could make a poster explaining about the Bulgarian orphanage efforts and sell the boxes at his local place of business. The girls invited several friends over for a service party!! Together, they made boxes that they are selling and donating the proceeds and additional donations to One Heart Bulgaria. Although it is a small contribution, finding a way for the girls to think about and serve the orphan children in Bulgaria has helped our family to be grateful for our own blessings and to feel the joy of helping others.

Leslie Kawai, UT

 
Just a note: My girls plan a monthly service party for their friends. Sometimes they come up with the idea or the need to be met, sometimes I do, and sometimes their friends make a suggestion. Our main ingredients are: pizza, laughter, a fun craft or activity that makes the service fun, and usually a fun late-night Disney movie!  We have made cards and sent packages to Hurricane Katrina victims; collected and donated candy to a women's shelter; painted craft garden picks and weeded then decorated a neighbor's yard who had broken her arm; raked leaves; made quilts; baked cookies; and put together school kits. My hope has been that my children will recognize that there are those whose lives they can bless--who need them--and that service is fun! The girls now start to think about who they might serve and how during the upcoming months and they look forward to spending their time together in this way. I hope that we are starting a tradition that will help them learn how to build positive, creative, meaningful experiences as they get older. There is no limit to the good we can do! And I hoped they are learning that service is fun. We do have fun! Our activities are age-appropriate.  They are not too long; we give a treat; we do something that is hands-on and creative; we create a special feeling; we share learning moments.  The girls love their service parties!