Maia Campbell and her three younger siblings are on a mission to spread the spirit of giving.
Through their organization, Kidz That Care, they are facilitating community initiatives to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic -- encouraging others to use their time, talent and funds to make a difference.
“We have organized and shared ways for kids to help their community, including coordinating volunteer opportunities that can be done from home or virtually,” said Campbell.
Kidz That Care informs kids on how to lead awareness projects and become active community servants, and shares information about community events and activities.
Abiding by the stay-at-home mandate, the siblings promote volunteer opportunities from their Kidz That Care Facebook page. So far, they have organized donation drives for baby blankets, fabric masks and handmade cards. They have also encouraged coronavirus relief fundraising to support the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children and the CMS COVID-19 Relief Fund.
“There are many ways to help from home, fundraise and find meaning in serving others in our community, especially in these unprecedented, challenging times,” said Campbell’s mom, Ivanna.
“If there is anything that this public health crisis and pandemic is teaching us is that we must rely on each other to move forward and prosper as a society,” said Campbell.
This is not the first natural disaster where the siblings have stepped in to help with recovery effects.
Kidz That Care was founded in 2018 after Hurricane Florence swept the Carolinas’ coast displacing thousands of residents.
Campbell said that her parents have always volunteered in the community and were heavily involved with the Red Cross’ Hurricane Florence efforts.
She remembered her and her siblings asking their mom, “What can we do to help?”
“That’s when the four of us decided we wanted to start getting involved in giving back too because we realized how fulfilled it made them feel to help others in need,” said Campbell.
Since its inception, Kidz That Care has supported numerous nonprofits in the Charlotte area including Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Samaritan’s Purse, Urban Ministry Center, Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte.
“Kidz That Care’s passion for giving back is something that we want to create a movement around -- a spirit of giving and realizing that we are interconnected and depend on each other,” said Campbell.
With no definitive end date for the stay-at-home order, the organization plans to continue to transform its previously scheduled events to more “social distance” friendly events.
“We hope that our community comes away from this public health crisis with a renewed appreciation for all our essential workers, including our grocery store workers, garbage collection workers, our front line health care personnel and all other community members who are out there giving it their all,” said Ivanna Campbell.
If you have an inspiring story to share, email Sinead Taylor, WSOC-TV community affairs specialist, at Sinead.Taylor@wsoc-tv.com.