Emily Hamilton FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Emily Hamilton may be small, but she has big ideas.
Emily, a second-grader at the Joseph J. Catena School, is working with some of her friends to raise $2,000 that will be used to build a playground for the children who attend the Mbiriizi Primary School in Masaka, Uganda, Africa.
The primary school is supported by Sylvia’s Children, which was founded by Sylvia Allen of Holmdel.
Emily has formed a team of fundraisers, including her sister, Allison, 5, and her classmates, Anthony, Samantha, Lindsey, and Becca. So far the youngsters have raised $667.
Emily’s mom, Michelle Hamilton, explained how her daughter was inspired to help Sylvia’s Children.
“Emily loves pleasing people,” Hamilton said. “She is an old soul. She has been serious since the day she was born. Emily gets a lot of satisfaction from helping people, whether it is doing volunteer work, making cards for children in a hospital, or helping parents by lending a hand with younger children. She is so nurturing, which is the one quality that stands out instantly. She would rather spend her time serving a purpose than doing the norm.”
Hamilton saidAllen came to speak about the relationship the Catena school has with Sylvia’s Children and with the youngsters in Africa.
“After the assembly, Emily was in her class talking to several of her classmates. Sylvia let the children know they could do something to help the children in Uganda. Emily came up with the idea of building a playground for the children in Uganda,” Hamilton said.
In short order, Emily and Allison began making posters and fliers to announce the fundraisers.
Emily eventually contacted Allen and asked for a meeting.
“She is a little child and look what she is doing,” Allen said about Emily.
She said she was happy to return to the Catena school to meet with the secondgraders who had become part of the fundraising family.
“Emily had a script to read, but when it was time, she said she did not want to use the script, but spoke from her heart. She had me in tears. I am thrilled to see the children responding to the needs of other children,” Allen said.
The Catena pupils have since explained to many people what Sylvia’s Children is all about and they have worked to collect money that will help to build a playground.
The youngsters have been permitted to ask for donations at Perkins, Freehold Township, Colts Neck Bagels, Colts Neck, Orlando’s Restaurant, Colts Neck, Tuscany, Marlboro, and Sweet Lew’s Café, Freehold Borough.
“When the kids hand out fliers to patrons and receive donations, their eyes light up,” Hamilton said. “They hand out lollipops to little kids. The goal is to raise $2,000 toward the playground equipment for toddlers in Uganda, and then the rest of the money will go to a newly built clinic.”
Kim Fitzpatrick, the counselor at the Catena school, said of the pupils’ fundraising efforts, “Our students feel a real connection to the students in Uganda and it is great to see them empowered and creating and running their own programs to help other children who need it.”
A clothing drive is scheduled for May. To donate clothes, call Kim Fitzpatrick at 732-431-4430.
Individuals who would like to contribute to Emily Hamilton’s fundraising effort for Sylvia’s Children can visit the Internet website at http://www.sylviaschildren.org/ Donations/donation.html