Homelessness has become a big issue in Los Angeles nowadays. In fact, it has become so rampant that even a 12 year old boy couldn’t help but do something about it.
Symond Boschetto was 8 years old when his desire to help the needy arose. One day he and his dad passed by a homeless man with a sign that read, “Need money to eat, please help.” He couldn’t help but do something for the man.
“I had like, $5 in my pocket, and I wanted to give it to him, but we had already passed him, and so I told my dad, ‘I want to help them,’” Symond told People Magazine.
“And he was like, ‘Well, I can turn around and we can go give him the $5.’ I said, ‘You don’t understand, I want to help them all,’” the 12 year old boy recounted.
The Non-Profit Organization Founded By A 12-Year-Old Boy
And since then, the compassion inside of him kindled for the sake of these people. His dad, Russell, helped Symond put up a request to build a website for the nonprofit organization he wanted to build.
Facebook | Share Hope USA
“He’s always been very giving, and I just had to comprehend what that meant,” his dad recalled. “And what it literally meant was, literally all of them, that’s exactly what he wanted to do.”
Symond founded Share Hope USA. Their mission is “a vocal advocate for the hungry, displaced, and hopeless. We travel to help children, homeless, and families in need.”
The organization aims to reach out the homeless and less fortunate with the goal of bringing them hope. This includes food, clothing, and providing other necessities that they might need.
“I started this because I knew there were people that I needed to help, and I wanted to see what I could do to help them,” said Symond.
The Share Hope USA’s Accomplishments
Share Hope USA has helped over 9,000 people in need. They have created a strong network and community through social media (Facebook and Twitter). Additionally, it has provided an open door for other teenagers to be part of Symond’s vision through the Youth Ambassador Program.
Facebook | Share Hope USA
The Youth Ambassador Program, also founded by Symond, has three “kindness” rules. First, show kindness daily to everyone you meet. Second, always be a good example of Sharing Hope with others. Finally, continue to be a difference maker.
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The program hosts outreach events in the community in partnership with Share Hope USA.
“What we have found is that through this program our youth are able to feel confident that no matter what their age, they too can change this world,” Share Hope USA’s website wrote.
Going The Extra Mile
But beyond the organization’s main mission, Share Hope USA is going the extra mile. They go out of their way to sponsor an annual Play-Doh drive for local hospitals.
“Play-Doh is the only thing that the hospital can’t disinfect,” describes Symond. “So when the patient touches it, they keep it forever, and keep it as a memory.”
Today, his family has moved from Los Angeles to Portland. And they are planning to sponsor yet more homeless families in the area on December during a Christmas event.
Symond then told the magazine, “I really want to just be almost all over the world. I want to be everywhere.”
Source: Christian Headlines