I would like to thank all the people who helped
on Guns Aren't Fun, an event held on May 9 to trade toy guns in for non-violent
toys, sports equipment, art supplies and books. I would also like people
to know that even though there are a lot of horrible things that happen
in this world, there are also good things that happen and people who care.
It's kind of new version
of the kid's story "Stone Soup." In that story, hungry soldiers came to
a town, but the villagers said they have no food. So the soldiers found
a big pot, put a stone in it, and said they were going to make the most
delicious soup in the world. The villagers were intrigued that the soldiers
could make soup out of stone and little by little, everyone contributed
something until the pot was full and there was a big feast.
At first, hardly anybody besides my principal and teachers, Northeast Community Development (NECDC), and the Portland TrailBlazers were willing to help with my project. Farmers Insurance soon joined in and paid for the event space and offered to help organize it.
Corporations I wrote to thought it was a good idea, but nobody wanted to make donations to buy the toys. Then Margie Boule wrote a column about it in the Oregonian and like magic, things started happening.
Hundreds of people sent checks and volunteered to help. Care Oregon donated $1000 to show how much they care about children's health and safety. Oregon Senator Ginny Burdick called and met with me to give advice and offer her help. Dr. Linda Erwin, a trauma surgeon who shows kids what bullets really do to people, offered to help and found someone to donate a computer and other raffle items. My principal, Mr. Luethe, let me use the phone at school between classes to line up donations. Teachers offered support and donations and Mrs. Romish from my school lined up Ellie from A Better 'T' Shirt Company who made T-shirts at cost for volunteers to wear at the event.
Finnegan's, Learning Palace, Child's Play, Ludeman's, and Kids at Heart, local toy stores who don't carry violent toys, donated items and sold me toys at discounts so the money people had sent could go as far as possible. Art Media gave me a discount on art supplies and Annie Bloom's Books gave me a discount on books. Gene Small, the man who owns Small World Toys in Hillsboro, got K'nex, a major toy manufacturer, to sell me toys for less than wholesale. Ozwest Boomerangs sold me toys at wholesale prices and gave me free merchandise. Monkey Business Sports gave me free toys and discounts. Bill Scream at Scream Music produced a radio PSA. Good Day Oregon let me talk about the project on their show and KEX and KXL interviewed me over the phone so I could publicize the event. Bob Rosetta spent a lot of time making a website.
Katie Arnold, Darren Nakata, Derrick Eilertson, and Janelle Teach, friends at school, helped with a bake sale and Katie and Darren helped at the event, too. And, of course, my brother Dusty, who is only 11, spent many hours helping. He stuffed and licked envelopes, surveyed the kids in his school to see what kind of things they would like to trade in their guns for, went on tons of shopping trips to buy the toys, and volunteered with his friend Peter Schick at the event. My mom and dad helped in all sorts of ways.
Local businesses, sports teams, and sports organizations donated tickets and other raffle items. Oregon Potters Association got 800 pounds of clay donated and came and set up tables to show kids how to make pots. Artist Peggy Clark volunteered her time drawing charicatures of kids who came. Super Cuts volunteered to do face painting. The Oregon Puppet Theater made an appearance for free. The other entertainers at the event - Ben the juggler, Steve from Creature Features, Biff the Clown, and Francesca - worked for less than they usually charge. Tommy Toys discounted his jumping house and other games. One of the Blazer's vendors offered free popcorn and pop. Godfather's Pizza sent over free pizza for the volunteers. Sports Court set up a basketball game for free. The Blazer dancers volunteered their time to autograph posters.
With all the donations and discounts, we had over 2,000 items -- toys, books, art supplies and sports equipment -- to exchange at the event. We raffled off tons of items, including a CD Walkman, bike, and computer.
Everyone, from corporations to kids, pitched in and helped make this happen. It was better than "Stone Soup," really, because in "Stone Soup" the people who gave things had a feast at the end. In Guns Aren't Fun, the people who helped didn't do it expecting anything in return for themselves. They just wanted to make the world a safer place for kids. It shows what can happen when people work together. When people care.
I really, really want to thank everyone for all the support and help and contributions.
Thank you very, very much.