Eight-Year-Old Kansas City Girls Receive Presidential Recognition
Kansas City, Missouri (PRWEB) October 14, 2013 -- If you asked 8-year-old twins Maggie and Sophie Lile what their favorite thing in the world is, the answer would be a resounding “art,” but their next favorite thing in the world is saving the world. What makes them feel the best is when they know they have done something really great for someone else.
It all started four years ago with the very first Global Oneness Day. People from around the world started celebrating the connection that we all have as residents of the planet. The Lile family had already been part of Humanity’s Team, the organization behind the creation of this global holiday. Maggie and Sophie, with the help of their mom, started the first ever “Share the Love” event in Kansas City.
“Our first event was a lot of fun,” says the girls’ mother Angie Lile. “We held it at our house with a small group of people and collected books for kids and wrapped them up. We also collected lots of ordinary household donations and made cookies.” All of the books, cookies and other donations were divided up between three different shelters: Sheffield Place, Gillis and True Light Family Resource Center.
“I like to help people because it lets them know that I care about them,” said Sophie, who has continued to enjoy “Share the Love” donation drives with her sister each year.
As the girls got older, their ambitions got bigger. “Last year, we combined forces with the Girl Scout troop and had the event at their school,” said Lile. “They were able to create 35 individual meal sacks and 22 personal care packs. “
Meanwhile, word of their “Share the Love” events spread to other members of Humanity’s Team, which is a global movement dedicated to helping people to see and understand our connection with each other as fellow earth beings.
Each year Humanity’s Team leaders from all over the world come together for a week-long strategic planning meeting and retreat. This year the event was held in Colorado and the entire Lile family traveled to meet these leaders.
“While we were at the meeting, the girls and I all received the Presidential ‘Call to Service Award’ for our hard work,” said Lile. They also received pins and a letter from President Barack Obama. “I was so surprised but also really proud of them. This felt like a pretty big deal,” said Lile.
“I was happy to get an award from the President,” said Maggie of her award. “It helps show others how important it is to be a part of our community.”
If one considers all the people who have benefited from the hard work of two small girls over the years, it is an accomplishment worthy of honor. Imagine what a whole school could do or even a whole neighborhood?
Of course, this is the very heart of how a grassroots movement operates. There have been many grassroots movements through time that have benefited people around the world. Humanity’s Team is just one of these many groups and the Lile family plans to continue the good work.
The next Global Oneness Day will be celebrated on Oct. 24 and the ambitious 8-year-olds are planning another donation drive. They plan to create meal sacks and personal care packs for as many people as possible and distribute them to True Light Family Resource Center, an organization that provides daytime shelter to homeless women in Kansas City. They offer personal training such as health and wellness, computer skills and other life skills.
Another recipient of the girls’ efforts will be The Gillis Center in Waldo that also provides shelter and learning for families in need.
If you think we can’t change the world, look to how two 8-year-old Kansas City girls have shown that hard work can make a difference. They had one thing to say about receiving the President’s award: “Won’t you join us in making a difference on Global Oneness Day?”
Whether you help a friend, relative or a complete stranger, make Oct. 24 your personal day to give back to the world. You might be surprised at the difference you can make.
Donation locations for this year’s drive will be held at the following locations:
• From 10/1 thru 10/25 - 8:30am -12:30pm at Co-Work Waldo - 7449 Broadway (75th & Wornall Rd)
• 10/24/13 - 4pm to 6pm outside Border Star Montessori - 63rd Street and Wornall Road in Brookside (outside in the parking lot)
• 10/26/13 from 8am-Noon at South-Broadland Presbyterian Church - 7850 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri (During the Tower Homes Association Fall Dumpster Day)
• 10/27/13 from 2pm - 4pm at Co-Work Waldo - 7449 Broadway, 7449 Broadway (75th & Wornall Rd)
Visit http://humanitysteamkc.blogspot.com for information on how you can participate in Global Oneness Day or learn about donation items needed.
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Angie Lile, Humanity's Team Kansas City, http://humanitysteamkc.blogspot.com, (816) 582-5765, [email protected]
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