Sammies Buddy Bench Project and Spreading Kindness
Donation protected
Meet Sammie Vance! Ambitious 14-year-old with a heart of gold from Fort Wayne Indiana. In 2017 while attending summer camp, she heard about Buddy Benches (a bench where when someone is lonely or needs a friend can sit on the bench, and it signals others to go up and ask them to play). She wanted some for her school because she didn't want anyone to feel alone. With mom's help found a company that takes recycled plastic caps and lids and melts them into benches. 200 lbs are needed for one 6 ft bench. She made a comic explaining concept and met with the principal. Got the A OK and got to work collecting.....fast forward 2 months! She collected enough caps for not 1 but 3 buddy benches for her school, along with extra caps to share with other schools wanting to start collecting for a buddy bench... fast forward another few months and a few newspaper articles and local TV appearances....more people interested in helping or starting a collection along with some viral videos about her project seen by over 40 million... Now lots of kids and schools all over the country are interested in getting a Buddy Bench through recycling! She has helped over 250 schools get them and isn't stopping.
Sammie's dream is to see Buddy Benches everywhere! These buddy benches involve community and teach about recycling and being kind! Helping the environment and friendships all in one. She needs your help to be able to help more people. #imagineabetterfuture
Sammie is not stopping there. She wants to spread kindness in many ways! She is sending out a daily letter of encouragement and smiles.
She is teaching kids how to make Cap Art Murals out of recycled plastic caps.
“It would be so great to be able to help some of these schools out! Every little bit helps. I don't want anyone to be lonely! I want to help spread kindness where ever I go and whatever I do(: I love teaching about recycling and kindness!
You don't just have to be an adult to make a difference. You can be a kid too!
Thank you
Love,
Sammie”
Please find out more about Sammie on her Website
This fund will help Sammie help others by getting the word out about buddy benches, helping groups with the cost of buddy benches, recycling, being kind and getting her book "Inspire the World: A Kid's Journey to Making a Difference" in the hands of kids that need something to inspire them to make a difference too! It talks about inspiring through Recycling, involving the community, giving, staying determined, being brave, helping others and being yourself.
#imagineabetterfuture
Organizer
Heidi Vance
Organizer
Fort Wayne, IN
