HUMANIST KID

​By: Generation SERVE Volunteer & Service Learning Program participant, Sadie Stansberry

Hi, my name is Sadie and I’m starting 4th grade this fall. Earlier this year, during the Generation SERVE Service Learning program, I started Humanist Kid. I’m really excited that my leader, Jennifer, at Generation SERVE asked me to write about it.

What is Humanist Kid?

Humanist Kid is a project I started in third grade. It focuses on helping people who are homeless. I noticed that people ignore those who are homeless. It’s easy to look away or at your phone and not see that they are hurting. It would make me feel awful if someone did that to me. I wanted to let them know I saw them and cared.

I started making homeless care packages to give to people. The care packages have things like granola bars, rescue blankets, socks and $5 bills. Instead of ignoring people, I could give them something, smile and say something nice.

My mom and I decided to call the project Humanist Kid because “humanist” means someone who cares about all people. We made t-shirts and bags with a cool design on them that say HUMANIST in big letters. They remind you to see the human being in everyone you meet, especially a person without a home. We sell them on the website humanistkid.org and use the money we make to buy stuff for our care packages. I want to get other kids excited to help!

​When did you get the idea for Humanist Kid?

​On Thanksgiving Day, I saw a person asking for food by the road in downtown Austin. I burst out crying. I reached over to my grandma and said, “It’s Thanksgiving. The least we can do is give them some money for good food.” She agreed right away. All Thanksgiving dinner, I talked about how we can help homeless people. We came up with the idea of care packages.

What did you learn in the Generation SERVE Service Learning Program?

​I did the Helping People Service Learning Program at Generation SERVE. We visited lots of organizations that help people in need. I learned that people who are homeless keep their spirits high. I don’t know how they do it. They say things like “Will you come back again?”. They seemed happy when we helped and that felt great.

​What have you accomplished so far?

This winter my grandma, mom and I made and handed out 27 care packages.

In May, we launched our website with all of our t-shirts - they come in lots of cool styles and colors for babies, kids and grown ups.  We have made $2,490 in gross sales and earned $1,254 for our charity. Every dollar we make buys stuff for people in need.

After we launched the website, we fed a park full of people dinner.  It felt awesome and they were so happy and surprised.

My mom and I are planning the next round of care packages. Lots of kids have said they want to help, so my mom and I have been brainstorming ideas. Some of my friends hosted a lemonade stand in their neighborhood and the proceeds will help pay for the stuff in the care packages! We are also planning a volunteer day in September to help us pass them out. If you’re interested, sign up right on our website. My mom and I are talking to agencies in Austin now to get advice on how to grow Humanist Kid.

​What has been your favorite part of this project?

​Seeing the looks on people’s faces when they get the care packages is my favorite part. They smile and happy cry and say “God bless you.” It makes me feel good that I’m helping, but sad that we have to do this to get homeless people noticed. We have to remind people that underneath it all, we’re all the same.

Sadie (left) and her younger sister, Pippi, show off their Humanist Kid shirts.

Sadie distributes 24 Jimmy John’s meals (donated by her grandmother) to people in need at the Terrazas Branch Library.

Families applaud after Sadie finishes her presentation on Humanist Kid at our spring Extension Project Showcase in April.

Sadie's friends, Paige and Evey, host a lemonade stand benefiting Humanist Kid.

---

​Do you have a 3rd - 5th grader interested in our Service Learning Program?
​Registration for our fall program opens on July 9th, so keep an eye out for an email at that time where you can sign up!

---