Girl’s toy sale nets cash for charity

• Meyer family

From left are Jeni Meyer and the Meyer children, Lauren and Jacob, lying in the grass in back of their Cottage Grove home with Kaitlyn on top. (Bulletin photo by Judy Spooner)

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Kaitlyn Meyer takes the lessons she learns at church to heart. Wanting to do something for children of the world led her to host, with help from her family, a used toy sale that recently netted $133.95 for “Feed My Starving Children,” an organization that sends food to children around the world.

Many children raise money for charity but Meyer, of Cottage Grove, is getting an especially early start. Although she prefers to tell people she is 8-and-a-half years old, she celebrated her eighth birthday last month.

Meyer’s mother, Jeni, said Kaitlyn made persistent requests last summer to give away the family’s used toys to children in a “lemonade-stand” format. Jeni, like many moms of creative and industrious children, said she would think about it.

Last fall, Kaitlyn, and third- and fourth-graders who attend Faith Filled Friends once a month at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, went to “Feed My Staving Children” and packed food for kids as a service project.

The next Sunday, after church, Kaitlyn asked her mother if she could sell used toys to send money to that organization.

This time, mom relented, realizing it was a good opportunity for her daughter to experience the good feeling of giving to others less fortunate than herself.

The first sale, at church, took place in early November and netted $80. Toys were those that Kaitlyn and her sister, Lauren, 7, no longer used.

“They were My Little Ponies and Barbies,” Lauren said.

Lauren enjoyed the sale, especially the hot chocolate that was served.

Brother Jacob, 5, was not ready to give up his baby toys for the first sale, Jeni said.

Kaitlyn wanted to raise more money for needy kids so another toy sale was held on May 31 at the church.

Jacob was ready to contribute his “baby” toys this time.

“We wanted to make it a bigger deal this time,” Jeni said, so information about the sale was given to church members, Cottage Grove Mom’s Club, neighbors and friends. Some of them donated toys for the sale.

This time, Kaitlyn’s idea raised $133.95.

Kaitlyn, who will be a fourth-grader next year, is looking forward to holding more used toy sales.

Tags: local news, cottage grove, news, lifestyle, charity, fundraiser