Member Spotlight: Anijae Gives Back
Anijae’s efforts in leading the “Giving With Love” project has helped families in need of food over the holidays. Her goal of 5 boxes exceeded to 13 this year. Her goal for next year is 30 boxes and she’s confident they can do that.
Five years ago when she was nine years old, Anijae, a MLK, Jr. Middle School Club member for nearly 3 years, decided to give a homeless person some of her money she received for her birthday. Today, at the age of 14, she has taken her spirit of giving back to new heights and has plans to reach more people in need.
Two years ago you bought food for a friend of yours at school and her family for Thanksgiving. How did this come about?
There are people who don’t have food as much as others do. A friend of mine said to me that it wasn’t going to be a good Thanksgiving for her and her family because they didn’t have much money to buy food. I wanted to help them so I talked to my Mom about what I could do.
What did you do for your friend and her family?
My mom and I went shopping and bought them food. We bought food items such as turkeys, mac and cheese, stuffing, vegetables and dessert items. We bought them food that I was blessed to have for my Thanksgiving thanks to my mom. We also were able to provide $25 VISA gift cards. My friend and her family were very thankful. I was able to help them out and show them that people care about them.
This year you decided to do it again. Please tell us what you did.
I am in the “Smart Girls Group” at the MLK Club with other girls my age group. (NOTE: MLK Club’s Senior Program Director Jennifer Ponton created the “Smart Girls Group” to teach the girls social learning skills such as how to problem solve, make positive decisions and be respectful and responsible for our actions and to other people.)
It’s about 10 of us in the group and we made holiday wreaths for people in a local nursing facility.
This year, I asked if we could donate food boxes to BGCMR families who need it most for Thanksgiving like I did for my friend’s family. I came up with a name for the project – “Giving With Love.”
How did the “Giving With Love” project go?
We set a goal of buying and delivering 5 boxes of food. Ms. Ponton, my mom, my grandmother, Ms. Lynch, who provides mindfulness and social and emotional learning support for BGCMR youth, and others helped me raise money, shop for the food and package and deliver the meals. I was so excited because we ended up with 13 boxes of food. We gave them to families from all 5 Clubs.
What are your plans for the future?
I would love to do more next year. My goal is 30 boxes. I think we can do it.
What have you learned about yourself doing this?
I like for people who are in need to have love…make them happy by helping them. I also learned that I could achieve my goals.
What advice would you give to other teenagers like yourself?
If you have a goal, don’t doubt yourself. Be confident, brave and proud for what you can do.
We asked Ms. Ponton about your initiative and this is what she told us about you.
Since being a member of the MLK Club, Anijae’s growth as a responsible and caring person has been incredible. She’s making good choices and decisions in school and life. She not only lives up to “Giving With Love,” she took ownership and led us in this initiative to give back to people in need. I am so proud of her and am excited to see her continue to grow.
“If you have a goal, don’t doubt yourself. Be confident, brave and proud for what you can do.”