When 9-year-old Kamryn Johnson and five of her neighborhood friends in Minneapolis came up with a fun idea to sell handmade bracelets, they never expected that their efforts would have such an impact.
It was Kamryn's mom that suggested the youngsters donate their profits to a good cause, and the kids agreed. Form there, "Kamryn & Friends: Bracelets for Unity and Justice" came to life.
Their bracelets and message were an instant hit.
“She made over $800 the first day,” her dad, Ron Johnson, told WCCO News. “She has blisters on her fingers now; she’s been working hard.”
Since May 30th, Kamryn and her crew have raised nearly $100,000 from the sale of their bracelets. The funds have gone to help locals in their city get back on their feet after the coronavirus hit small businesses particularly hard, followed by the civil unrest and looting damages after the murder of George Floyd.
The kids charge $5 for their bracelets, but people are giving $20, $50, and even $100 to support their cause. Additionally, they have collected $46,000 on their GoFundMe page.
Ron said he's proud of his daughter and her friends for not only helping locals in need but also for facilitating a larger conversation about social issues.
“When I’m older, I want to help people in need,” Kamryn said, “Just like I’m doing now.”