Pint-sized philanthropists from Middletown have raised more than $1,000 for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA).
The young benefactors are pupils at the Nut Swamp Elementary School in Middletown. They are Marlowe Schorr, 10, Max Schorr, 8, Emma Merces, 10, Mia Collins, 10, and Lilah Nicosia, 10.
On Jan. 10, the children were invited to the MCSPCA facility in Eatontown and given a tour of the animal shelter and praise for their entrepreneurial spirit.
Marlowe, Emma, Mia and Lilah said they used “teamwork and effort” to make and sell handmade jewelry, keychains and wind chimes to people in the community. They even fulfilled custom orders. The girls said their mothers used social media to solicit customers. Each girl made between 30 and 40 bracelets.
With the help of his mother, Max made and sold soy-based candles with essential oils such as lavender, almond and lemon scents.
Since she was in the first grade, Marlowe has spearheaded fundraising endeavors during the holiday season. A self-proclaimed animal lover, the youngster said she always chose to donate her earnings to the MCSPCA.
Marlowe initially donated a modest $18 she earned selling stickers. Last year, Marlowe donated $100 to the animal shelter. The donation paid for the adoption fees of a cat.
“I’ve always loved animals,” Marlowe said. She revealed that she owns two dogs and a snake.
In 2019, Marlowe invited her friends and her brother, Max, to help advance her fundraising efforts, and the children raised even more money for the animal shelter.
“My mom was a Girl Scout troop leader with Mia’s mom and so she got us a class at Michael’s (craft store). We got all the supplies (to make crafts) and we started getting more into (making crafts) and then we showed lots of our friends” how to make crafts, Emma said.
In total, the children donated $1,248 to the MCSPCA. They also contributed $532 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Jaimee Skidmore, development and special events coordinator at the MCSPCA, said the children’s donation will go to the animal shelter’s general operating fund.