Second Graders Help Red Cross Victims

Second graders at Perry Elementary School distributed comfort kits to the American Red Cross Tuesday.

For Harmonie Adams, it all started with a biography project. "The idea came from Clara Barton when I had my presentation on her and I thought… she started the Red Cross," Adams said. "So we went down to the Red Cross and they said they needed some help and I told my mom that I wanted to help them."

Adams’ passion and perseverance influenced her classmates to help her create 175 comfort kits for the Red Cross.

"When I started to make the comfort kits with my whole school we all worked together as a team and it made me feel really good," she said.

Adams explained this isn’t a project she could have done by herself. "They were really supportive and helped me a lot, and I wouldn’t have made all 175 kits without them," she said.

These kits, which include: shaving cream, razors, wash cloths, toothpaste, a toothbrush, soap, shampoo, a comb, and tissues, are assembled to give to disaster victims.

"This will have huge impact," said Executive Director of the Muskingum Valley Red Cross, Marlene Henderson. "When we go out and actually stand on someone’s lawn and after they’ve lost their house, these are the things that people don’t think about. It’s the toothbrushes, shampoo, a comb, a razor that is definitely going to help them."

As for Harmonie’s mom, Emily Adams, she couldn’t believe the motivation her daughter had.

"I was really emotional and ecstatic that she as such a little kid, only seven-years old, wanted to help as much as she did," Adams said. "It just was amazing that a seven-year old who should be focused on playing outside, watching TV, doing homework, or reading, wanted to do something like this."

Harmonie’s drive for volunteering is far from over. She hopes to be an Emergency Relief Veterinarian in the future.

"It shows me that it doesn’t matter if you’re big or small you can always help," she said.

All of Harmonie’s hard work will benefit disaster relief victims in 13 counties across the state of Ohio.