Follow this student’s example, donate to help kids

Badra Kalil hopes to spread the seed of giving planted in her by her brother and parents.

The first-grader at Lincoln Elementary in Iowa City donated $366 to the Homeless Children's Trust just in time for the organization's annual Christmas party Saturday.

“She talked about over the summer how she wanted to do a toy drive for her birthday,” says Badra's mother, Grazi Kalil. “When I was making out her birthday invitations, she said, ‘don't forget to help the poor kids.'”

Badra's brother, Victor, is her inspiration for helping homeless children. When the Kalil family visited their native Brazil several years ago, Victor was saddened by the poor children in the streets. When he returned to Iowa City, he organized a toy drive for the orphanage.

While planning her daughter's birthday party last month, Grazi Kalil learned about the Homeless Children's Trust from her neighbor. In the invitations, she requested a donation for the trust instead of a gift for Badra.

Rather than opening gifts at her 7th birthday party Nov. 22, Badra happily accepted the donations.

“In the invitation I said, ‘any contribution is welcome,'” Grazi Kalil says. “They were very generous.”

Badra and her mother presented the $366 donation Monday to Mary Larew, chairman of the Homeless Children's Trust Christmas shopping and party.

The trust is a non-profit organization under the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, covering Linn, Johnson, Jones, Benton, Iowa and Washington counties. It assists families and single parents living in transitional or temporary housing or in abusive, dysfunctional and difficult situations.

Each year a Christmas party and shopping event are held in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Parents are given $50 per child and shop for a present while their children enjoy the party, which includes breakfast, lunch, crafts, games and movies.

The party in Iowa City will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Moose Lodge on Highway 6 East.

Highlights include Iowa Hawkeye senior football players autographing posters, performances by Kevin B.F. Burt and Rita Offutt and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The party in Cedar Rapids will be held Dec. 12 at AEGON, 4333 Edgewood Rd. NE.

Donations of money or gifts are being accepted for both parties. Volunteers are also needed. In Iowa City, contact Larew at (319) 338-1212. In Cedar Rapids, contact Lisa Bender at (319) 366-7631.