Student hopes to build a bridge to Sri Lanka

Published 7:00 pm Saturday, August 26, 2006

Maddy Figueroa plans a garage sale to raise money for the devastated nation.

Maddy Figueroa needs a little help from her friends.

Haunted by news accounts of the damage wrought upon Sri Lanka by a tsunami two years ago, as well as the devastation caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, the 11-year-old Sakai Intermediate School student wanted to make things better for somebody somewhere.

After discussions with her mother, Holly, and some internet research, Maddy started an organization called “Bainbridge Kids Care” this summer.

Now she needs island students to help bring her idea to fruition: holding garage sales to raise $5,000 to build a school in a hard-hit area of Sri Lanka.

The money will be sent to the Free the Children organization, the premise of which is children helping other children through education. The organization will allow Maddy’s group to name the school.

“We think that we can do that with about three fund-raisers,” said Maddy, a poised, well-spoken sixth-grader who enjoys acting, singing and dancing. “Maybe even two.”

Seeing “all the horrible things that happened after the tsunami, hurricanes and earthquakes” in the world upset Maddy and moved her to action. She and her “almost alt country” singer mom chose to work with Free the Children because “education is the first step out of poverty.”

Maddy has done the bulk of the planning for her first garage sale, which will take place Sept. 9 and 10 at her home.

She is making posters to distribute around town and working the phones to solicit donated items and get the word out about the event.

“Maddy wanted to do this about two years ago, right after the tsunami,” Holly said. “She kept saying, ‘How can we help? How can we help?’

“We did a benefit concert with Ovation! Musical Theatre…After the hurricanes, we saw the devastation and were heartbroken all over again. She asked, “What can I do?’ What could we do?’ When I mentioned (the garage sale) to her, she just took off with it.”

Perhaps due to summer activities, volunteers are slow to respond.

“I think a lot of people want to help but don’t know how,” Maddy said. “In truth, if anybody can help kids, it’s kids. They can help more than adults because adults may not remember as much (of what it was like to be a kid).”

Maddy welcomes items big and small for the garage sale, as long as they are in good shape. Clothes, toys, books, CDs, bicycles and musical instruments, for example, may be dropped off at the Figueroa home. Arrangements may be made to have the family pick up some things. Among the donations so far are a fish tank, toys, a dobro and desks.

Hands-on help during the garage sale is equally important.

“We need a lot of kids,” Maddy said. “(And) we are looking for a lot of items. Pretty much anything anyone doesn’t want anymore and has to donate, we will take and sell and all of the money goes to Sri Lanka kids.”

Monetary donations are welcome, too.

Maddy wants Bainbridge kids to know about her organization and join in.

“I think sometimes kids think they are too young to do anything, but I want to help them to see that they can help, no matter how old they are.

“It makes me feel really good to know that I am making a difference in other kids’ lives,” Maddy said. “We want this to be an ongoing project. When we reach this goal, some of the other projects I want to do are help the environment, endangered species and homeless kids and their families in the U.S.”

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To work a shift and donate items or money to Maddy Figueroa’s Bainbridge Kids Care fund-raising garage sale, contact her at maddy@maddyfigueroa.com or 579-0287.

The sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9 and 10 at the Figueroa home, 4769 Blakely Ave., across the street from Blakely Elementary School.

All proceeds benefit the building of a school in Sri Lanka. See www.freethechildren.com.