Alex VanHaren
In 2015, when Alex was in fourth grade, he noticed that some children in school did not have winter clothing for recess. He returned home from school and told his mom that day, “I need to learn how to knit so I can make scarves and hats for children who need to stay warm.” His mom took him to the store for yarn and Alex watched a video on knitting, and that year, Alex donated 200 hats, gloves, and scarves to children in need. When he was 9 years old, Alex founded Scarves 4 Cozy Kids, a charity that makes and donates scarves, hats, and gloves to local children in need. He has made (with the help of other volunteers) and distributed over 7,500 hats, gloves and scarves. His boxes of winter items are located in 22 schools and have been donated to more than 20 organizations. In addition to winter items, Alex organizes two year round collections (soda pop tops for Ronald McDonald House and used eyeglasses for the Lions Club) and he partners with a new organization every month to assist other causes such as collecting used cell phones for seniors and victims of domestic violence, used blankets and towels for Heavenly Paws and K9 animal rescues, old wedding dresses for Angel Gowns, school supplies for schools in need, personal hygiene items for the Haven, used coats for the Oakland County Coat Drive, used clothing for Grace Centers of Hope, can foods and non-perishable foods for Oxford/Orion Fish food pantry, and used building materials for Habitat for Humanity.
Alex (9th grade, Michigan) recognizes that people are willing to help by repurposing things that they already have in their home for someone in need. Alex understood from a young age that the definition of caring is “helping others without a second thought without getting anything in return.”