Rachel Freeman is only10 years old. She has always looked for ways to volunteer and to help others in need. She has sold Kids Day papers every year since pre-school, has served meals to the homeless, and participates in clothing and food drives during the holidays. However, her favorite volunteer activities involve helping animals.
Rachel has organized lemonade stands in her yard in the summer, and has bundled mistletoe to sell in the winter. Every penny she earns is donated to the Central California SPCA. She recently attended the volunteer orientation required to become a Junior Volunteer. She has spent hours walking and petting the animals as they await adoption. During the orientation session, it was mentioned that the SPCA had run out of newspapers to line the animal cages. Rachel knew immediately that she could help. Initially she wanted to collect papers from friends and neighbors to donate. Soon she found herself planning to organize a citywide newspaper drive in her hometown of Kingsburg.
Rachel met with school superintendent Mark Ford, to get permission to advertise through the Kingsburg Elementary schools. He agreed, and she created 2500 fliers to send home with students. Merchants in Kingsburg displayed the notices in their windows. Rachel painted posters and displayed them in town. March 13th was to be collection day. A rented trailer was used to hold the paper. Rachel, her best friend Kayla, and her mom collected over 1000 lbs of newspaper, thanks to the Kingsburg community, and the support of her school, Ronald Reagan Elementary!
When asked, Rachel will say that the most satisfying moment was being able to deliver the huge stacks of paper to the SPCA to help the animals. Rachel hopes to have a second annual newspaper drive in 2011.She continues to plan more activities, and will certainly be selling lemonade again this summer. If anyone would like to donate newspaper to the SPCA, they can simply call 559-233-7722 ext. 127, or stop by and visit the animals at the same time.
In the future, Rachel plans to become a veterinarian so she can continue to help animals.
Rachel Freeman is only 10 years old, but she has made a big impact in our community.
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