Current:Home > BackA Texas 2nd grader saw people experiencing homelessness. She used her allowance to help.-LoTradeCoin
A Texas 2nd grader saw people experiencing homelessness. She used her allowance to help.
View Date:2024-12-23 20:52:42
A Texas 7-year-old with a big heart used her allowance and community donations to make goodie bags for people experiencing homelessness this month.
Davenee Jaramillo is a second grader in the Levelland Independent School District, west of Lubbock.
“Whenever I see homeless people, it makes me sad,” she told USA TODAY.
Her mom, Debbie Jaramillo, said she has been asking her parents how she can help those in need for over a year. On Jan. 4, she got the idea to make goodie bags with all the essentials so she could pass them out to locals.
“We put a lot of food,” the 7-year-old said. “We put socks, (toenail) clippers. We put toothbrushes, toothpaste … water and little goodies.”
She aimed high and set out to make 100 bags, only her $20 allowance wasn’t enough to cover all of her supplies. The family decided to raise money by posting a video asking for help.
“I just sent a little group text out and immediately she had people sending donations to help her out,” Debbie said. “It added up quickly. It was overwhelming. Just that night, within two hours, she raised money.”
Family, friends, coworkers and other community members donated via Venmo and they raised between $700 and $800.
“It felt pretty good how people donated,” said Davenee, who expected to get around $100 or $200.
‘God put us in the right place at the right time’
In addition to the toothpaste, toothbrushes and other items Davenee put in the bags, people also donated blankets, ponchos and other items, her mom said.
Davenee’s mom, dad, brother and other family members chipped in to put them together.
“We just started an assembly line and it was fun,” her mother said, later adding that it took about an hour to knock them all out.
They passed the goodie bags out at multiple locations throughout their area, including to police stations so officers can hand them out to people they encounter.
The family also went to a transitional homeless shelter called Grace Campus in Lubbock since they know lots of people go there for support.
“We loaded her up in a trailer and we put the blankets in the bags,” her mom said. “She just immediately was in her element, just handing out and talking to people. It was pretty nice to see.”
Something pretty special happened later on, too. The family was driving down a random street and saw St. Benedict's Chapel preparing to feed locals in need.
“I felt like God put us in the right place at the right time,” she said.
They got out of the car and a gentleman greeted them, inviting them inside. He told them they were getting ready to feed people as they do each night. The family asked if it’d be OK to drop off some of their bags.
“They were thrilled and we were thrilled,” Debbie said, adding that they have items left over and plan to pass out more items soon.
More feel good news:A woman's 1959 bridal photos were long lost. Now the 85-year-old has those memories back.
Meet Davanee: The small hero with a big heart
Aside from giving to those in need, Davenee likes to watch television and play. She also plays basketball and she’s super crafty.
“She’s shy and loving, but at home, she's my silly girl,” her mom said. “A lot of people don't get to see that side.”
Her mom calls her “the little teacher” and when they play school, Davenee is the teacher and the principal, her mom laughed.
Davenee wants to help more people this summer and has a challenge for people everywhere.
“Be kind to other people,” she said.
To donate to Davenee’s cause, visit www.venmo.com/u/DebbieJaramillo.
veryGood! (5684)
Related
- Jason Kelce Jokes He Got “Mixed Reviews” From Kylie Kelce Over NSFW Commentary
- What the Mattel CEO Really Thinks of the Satirical Barbie Movie
- Seaside North Carolina town overrun with hundreds of non-native ducks
- Inside Gisele Bündchen's Birthday Girls' Trip With Daughter Vivian and Twin Sister Patricia
- 'This dude is cool': 'Cross' star Aldis Hodge brings realism to literary detective
- Smooth Out Stubborn, Deep-Set Wrinkles and Save 50% On Perricone MD Essential FX Deep Crease Serum
- A Catastrophic Flood on California’s Central Coast Has Plunged Already Marginalized Indigenous Farmworkers Into Crisis
- HGTV's Erin Napier Shares Video of Husband Ben After He Got Hardcore About Health and Fitness
- Mariah Carey's Amazon Holiday Merch Is All I Want for Christmas—and It's Selling Out Fast!
- Rainfall Extremes Increasingly Threaten Mountain Regions and Areas Downstream From Them
Ranking
- Advocacy group sues Tennessee over racial requirements for medical boards
- MrBeast YouTuber Kris Tyson Comes Out as Transgender
- Beat the Heat With These 19 Hacks To Make a Sweaty Commute Much More Tolerable
- Collin Gosselin Accuses Mom Kate Gosselin of Creating “Barrier” Between Him and Siblings
- Florida man’s US charges upgraded to killing his estranged wife in Spain
- Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin Reveal 2nd Wedding in the Works
- Travis Barker Pens Heartbreaking Letter to Teen Drummer After His Death
- James Middleton's Comments About His Relationship With Sister Kate Middleton Are Royally Relatable
Recommendation
-
RHOBH's Kyle Richards Addresses PK Kemsley Cheating Rumors in the Best Way Possible
-
Why Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling Are the Perfect Barbie and Ken
-
Oppenheimer Moviegoers Spot Mistake in Cillian Murphy Scene
-
Iran’s hijab law brings united front among country’s women
-
Walmart Planned to Remove Oven Before 19-Year-Old Employee's Death
-
New Federal Report on Research Into Sun-Dimming Technologies Delivers More Questions Than Answers
-
Separate boat crashes in Cape Cod and the Ozarks leave 1 dead, 13 injured: Police
-
Tony Bennett and Susan Crow's Love Story Will Fly You to the Moon