Is trying to help really worth it?

Fifteen year old Ellen Bigger, of Key Largo, Florida, was convinced that the actions of even one person - and kids in particular - can, and will, make our world a better, safer place. Ellen lost two people she cared deeply about to drug related deaths, and when she was five years old, she and several other kindergarten kids were caught in the cross fire between a police SWAT team and a drugged out sniper. Many of the adults in Ellen's community had become cynical; they felt there was nothing they could do to stop the dealers, who actually knocked on people's front doors to sell drugs!

But Ellen believed that kids have power, that a kid can get other young people and adults to listen - and make a difference. She founded an organization called "Drug Free Homes" and launched an all out war on drugs in her community. Ellen Bigger is just one of many remarkable kids.

Here is more about her:

“Drug abuse in this country has become such a tremendous problem that there is no place left to hide from it; our only recourse is to stand and fight!”
So said 11-year-old Ellen bigger when she launched her drug-free home campaign.

Ellen’s Brownie leader had been murdered by a drug-addict, and Ellen was determined to get families to face the issues of drug abuse. She passed out over 40,000 “This is a Drug Free Home” pledge forms; all members of a family sign a no-drugs pledge, then post their home with a no-drugs decal Ellen designed.

Ellen has endured criticism and taunting from her classmates, drained her babysitting savings, and taken “awful weeding jobs” to pay for printing and mailing the pledges and decals. To raise still more operating money she sells Drug Free Home T-shirts.

Ellen then began working on “Youth Wish,” a nonprofit she founded to help other kids with their service projects. Her adult Board of Directors helps her to select recipients for her grants of $5 to $500, to match funds young people raise for projects they have designed to make the world a better place. Active in Girl Scouts, Ellen shared the podium with Barbara Bush at a National Girl Scout Convention in Miami.

Ellen Bigger is one of only 30 young people in the entire USA selected by the Giraffe Project to represent young American leaders on a trip to the Soviet Union.

Age when commended: youth (12 or less)
Year commended: 1990

President John F. Kennedy Challenged Americans to prove themselves with his famous inaugural declaration, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country!"

Today, our challenge is even greater: What can you do to make your nation, our world, a better, safer, more peaceful place for everyone?

The challenge is your - because, as a young person, you are the future.

It all comes from your heart!
Is there something you see around you that needs help?
Is there something missing or not available in your area?
Then you can make a difference!

Here are just a few more who did something:

Andrea Eaton - helped Camp Fire to stop teen suicides.

Margaret Ann Sisler - helped buddy Clint McKinney with Down Syndrome, and learned sign language.

Teddy Andrews - founded S.A.Y. Y.A.Y (Save American Youth/Youth Advocates for Youth)

Robert Cobbley - founded SOTO (Students on Their Own) at his high school, to help kids live on their own.

Marcey Perry - joined the Exodus Players, performers who help other kids learn more about drugs, alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, those being molested, and run aways to learn to ask for help.

Aja Henderson - she opened a library in her family's den.

Joshua Raiford - organized a Little League in his community.

Linda Warsaw - started "Kids Against Crime" a way to educate children to help prevent them from becoming victims.

Jennifer Sussal - became the only teenager to testify before a Senate committee, when she successfully lobbied for a bill requiring warning labels on alcoholic beverages. She also became the president of her school's anti-driving while intoxicated group.

Kory Johnson - founded Children for a safe Environment. check out (www.c4se.org)

Kristin Johnson - helped to launch the "Adopt an Acre" program, and helped to form R.A.I.N (Rainforest Awareness Information Network).

Casey Golden - invented a biodegradable golf tee. You too can invent things - check out Invent America (www.inventamerica.org) and enter the National Contest.
Casey with his dad formed a company called Biodynamics.

Lyle Solla-Yates - founded "Pals of Wildlife", Adopt-A-Manatee (www.savethemanatee.org) another site to check out is: (www.wildlife.utah.gov)

Lauren Krohn - believes in helping animals, and volunteering at area shelters. Check out (www.helpinganimals.com or www.aspca.org) if you want to help too.

Trevor Ferrell - Trevor and his family started the Trevor's Place, a shelter, for more information check out (www.oneneighborhood.org) You too can help end homelessness or start a shelter, or how about starting a soup kitchen. Visit one or two in your area, and get involved, that's the first big step. Check these out (www.habitat.org) or (www.redcross.org) or (www.salvationarymusa.org)
You could organize a "food run" to deliver hot meals to street people. Or you could organize a communitywide "supplies drive" for all those personal items people need; coats, scarves, hats, socks, gloves, shoes, boots, soap, shampoo, and the list goes on and on. You do not have to do this alone, you can get friends, family, schools, or even your church to help you.

Justin Lebo - fixed used bikes to give away as refurbished bikes to a local boys' home. He would even buy new bikes with the money people where happy to give him for the kind work he was doing. Can you fix something? There could be a homeless shelter, church, or other places that could use your help.

Michelle Ondako - founded S.H.O.P - Students Helping Older People. Get your friends together and volunteer at nursing or retirement homes, senior centers or an adult day-care facility, or meals-on-wheels program that delivers food to shut-in adults. You could even start up a "pets and people" program, where you would transport small animals like cats and dogs to the older people to spend some visit time together. Watch them smile. David Cox was another kid who found the call to help other elderly people in need of things to be done for them.

David Cox -

What a voice she has - Rhema Marvanne (at 7 years old)

Listen for yourself at, www.rhemamavanne.com