Edmond Kids Give Money They Raised To Charities For The Holidays

Two metro business owners are providing a reminder this season that it’s often better to give than to receive.

The owners are also showing that it’s never too early to learn about hard work or generosity.

The business owners are 7-year-old Kirby and 12-year-old Zae.

It all started with a challenge over the summer from their mom, Channing Gardner.

“We wanted them to learn one responsibility and two how to sell themselves because they did have to go door knock,” Gardner explained.

It was a task that Zae took on whole heartedly.

“We got flyers and started walking around the neighborhood and started putting them in mailboxes and knocking on doors,” he said.

The jobs ranged from cutting grass to watering plants. When the business grew, it was time to bring in more help. He turned to Kirby.

“You need help?” Kirby recalls asking. “Then I was like well I am kind of bored. The iPad is charging, I’m bored. So I was like okay I guess.”

The work was not always easy as she points out.

“Sometimes we have to go back there and clean up all the dog poop!”

The lessons however, were rewarding. One of those lessons Channing said was in finance.

“Putting 10 percent back for the tithe, saving for an emergency, saving for a vehicle, investing back in the company and then the rest of this in the pot you get to keep,” Channing said.

They managed to save most of that money until this month when two nonprofits came to Channing’s networking group to ask support of local businesses.

“I went to two business owners that I know,” Channing recalled.

Those two owners – Kirby and Zae- jumped at the opportunity.

“Of the 35 businesses challenged, those two youngest ones were the first 2 to step up,” Channing said.

For Zae, it was a chance to reflect.

“I just like giving and helping other people,” he said. “Because we’re lucky that we have a house and a family to live with.”

It became a chance to count one’s blessing and the start of a new Christmas tradition.

The kids used their spending money to buy gifts for the two organizations, Effort of Hope and Operation Christmas Train Set.

Effort of Hope serves grandparents without family close by, or those who recently lost a loved one.

Operation Christmas Train Set provides presents and school supplies to underprivileged children across the state.

Of all the money they spent this year, nearly three quarters went to others.

It’s an encouraging outcome for Channing. “As a mom and just as a human being I mean you’ve got to be proud of that.”

To learn more about the nonprofits, or to learn how to donate, click here.