For the past 10 years I have created change for the better for the children in my community.
From a young age, I found that I had a huge heart for serving others. This realization came to me one Sunday morning at my church when I was eight years old. My pastor was talking about children and adults in our community not having the luxury of owning a warm coat in the winter. He mentioned the coat drive my church was holding and told us they were in desperate need of donations. I was shocked by the idea of kids my age not having a coat in which to walk to school or play outside.
A few days later, my third-grade teacher was discussing the importance of “leaving a legacy.” He told us stories about people who had identified a problem and worked to develop a solution. The idea of making an impact in the world inspired me to think of how I could do that myself. That night, as my mom put me to bed, I told her how I wanted to look back on my life and know that I left the world better than it was before. I wanted to make a mark on my community.
As I drifted off to sleep, the ideas started churning in my head, and I remembered my church’s coat drive. Then, it clicked. I wanted to create an organization to help underprivileged children to stay warm in the winter. When I woke up the next day, the idea became a reality. Ava’s Angels was born.
I gathered ten friends to go door-to-door after school asking for coat donations. The first year, in 2011, Ava’s Angels collected 111 coats, hats, mittens, and other winter items. That was just the beginning. By eighth grade, Ava’s Angels was collecting over 1,000 winter items each year! Even World Series-winning baseball player Alex Gordon, of the Kansas City Royals, donated some brand new coats to Ava’s Angels.
As I entered high school, my organization began branching out to various partners in my community. Currently I have 15 local partnerships that help me amplify my impact in the community. Most of the recipients of the items from Ava’s Angles are elementary schools in downtown Kansas City. The kids that go to these schools don’t have access to a warm coat and they rely on Ava’s Angels to provide them with their warmth every winter.
The organization continues succeeding in its mission to help underprivileged children stay warm. It has also helped me grow tremendously as a person. Leading Ava’s Angels has instilled in me the importance of leadership and placing other people’s needs before my own. Before I started the organization, I was very uncomfortable with the thought of public speaking and putting myself out there in my community. But after speaking to groups at our local partners and establishing Ava’s Angels, I have grown comfortable and confident.
This year will mark my tenth anniversary. To date, Ava’s Angels has collected over 10,000 winter items for children in need. I will continue operating Ava’s Angels for the foreseeable future.
I will always be grateful for this experience and for the countless blessings it has offered me. I am a better person because of it, and overall, a stronger leader in my community.
By Ava Jones, scholarship award winner
UCA’s most recent Scholarship Essay Contest for High School Juniors and Seniors officially ended on November 30, 2020. While the theme has always been to explore ways to make a more caring world, our most recent Essay Contest specifically asked how they would make a more caring world in one of four categories – Children – Animals – Reforestation – Elderly. The winning essays have been posted and awards distributed.
UCA’s most recent Scholarship Essay Contest for High School Juniors and Seniors officially ended on November 30, 2020. While the theme has always been to explore ways to make a more caring world, our most recent Essay Contest specifically asked how they would make a more caring world in one of four categories – Children – Animals – Reforestation – Elderly. The winning essays have been posted and awards distributed.
Because there were so many impressive essays submitted from across the U.S., we decided to share many of these students’ inspiring caring actions with you in this publication. Through their essays, the students provide a refreshing insight into their minds and hearts, offering an in depth view of our world that we often overlook. They take us on a journey rich in knowledge, personal experience and creative solutions. It is our hope you will feel as informed and inspired as we do. We are proud to present to you the writings, thoughts and dreams for a more caring future through these articles.