This week we kick off a new weekly column, “Child Role Models,” in which we highlight someone your kids’ age that they can look up to. First up is Hannah Taylor.
In recent weeks we have posted a number of articles about role models, or more specifically, the lack of them in society. It’s hard to show children an adult they can be inspired by and aspire to be like. So let’s give them someone their age (or younger) that are doing what’s right and being better people than most adults. These are kids that we should all hope to be like.
Hannah Taylor is just like any 13 year old girl, except that when she was 8 she started a charitable foundation to aid the homeless. The Ladybug Foundation was started after Hannah, at age 5, saw a homeless man on the street and felt sad that he was eating out of the trash can. She continued to ask questions of her mother about the homeless man and why they were there at all. Another time she saw a homeless man on her way to school and felt sad again. That night she went to sleep and wished she could cure all homelessness.
From there, she and her family formed the foundation with Hannah’s goals as their own.
- To teach people that homeless people are just like you and me they just need us to love them and care for them.
- To teach everyone to treat homeless people like family because if you do that you will love them in all the right ways and you will treat them in all the right ways and care for them in all the right ways.
- To teach people that no one should ever eat from a garbage can or live without a bed or a home and to let them know that there are people that have to because they have no choice.
- To ask every person who will listen to help however they can to make life for our homeless people better.
- To teach people that homelessness is not sad if you help.
Now at age 13 she is dedicated to helping all homeless people and educating anyone and everyone she can talk to about the homeless. She has even become a published author with her book “Ruby’s Hope” about a little girl learning to give and the feelings it raises. She is a bright and motivated young girl who would make any parent proud.
While working for her foundation she has done numerous things to aid the unfortunate people around here. Here are just some of the things she has done:
- Spoken to thousands of people, educating them about the homeless and what can be done to help
- Raised thousands of dollars for various organizations and shelters
- Organized numerous food and clothing drives
- Created a national (Canadian) “Red Scarf Day” to raise awareness and raise funds
Hannah is a girl who not only wants to help people but does so in a huge way. She has done more in her first 13 years than many of us will do in our lives. We should all be proud of Hannah and strive to be more like her.
If you have any suggestions or know a child role model of your own, please comment and let us know.
(Images courtesy of The Ladybug Foundation)
