We emphasize youth involvement in their own communities, providing opportunities for young people to organize service initiatives that they deem valuable. These initiatives cultivate empathy, personal growth, and confidence—what we call Kids Helping Kids.
Get involved!
UPCOMING INITIATIVES
FALL AND WINTER
Holiday Events
Multiple opportunities!
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It is part of our holiday tradition to collaborate with youth leaders based at our nonprofit partners to consider community assets and needs. Someone Else’s Child Foundation staff then partners with youth leaders to fill and distribute gift bags to community members that often include, food, winter clothing and other personal items.
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If you have items to donate or would like to be a part of packing or distributing gift bags contact Genesis.
2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
Rafael Hernandez School/Guatemala Exchange
Our first international Kids Helping Kids Event!
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In partnership with the Rafael Hernandez K-8 School in Roxbury, we will work together on a donation drive and a learning exchange opportunity with a partner school in Guatemala.
The idea came from Ana Contreras, Family Engagement Facilitator, who works closely with Julia Nucci, 3rd grade teacher, to organize the donation drives. Someone Else’s Child Foundation’s Kids Helping Kids initiative aligned so well with the effort that we are collaborating on the project.
Ana and Julia normally work with the Hernandez school community, both staff and families, to collect donations. However, this year Ana and Julia expanded the program, inviting students from six classrooms across first, second, and third grade to participate in leading the initiative. Someone Else’s Child Foundation is excited to work closely with the Ana and the Hernandez community on our first international Kids Helping Kids. We hope these efforts can be showcased in a video at the end of the program.
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If you would like to contribute or have questions, email Genesis.
These efforts are boosted by the enthusiasm for leadership of the young people we meet through our nonprofit partners. The sense of community and giving that develops in the youth who participate in these events has revealed our true mission.
Christine Dixon, our Executive Director, encapsulates the goal of Kids Helping Kids as “do with, rather than do for.”
2023
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Leaders in Training (Counselors between the ages of 14-18) organized back-to-school backpacks for the camp and Tobin School communities.
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Ale, Someone Else’s Child Foundation Intern and a 10th grade student at Cristo Rey Boston, surveyed her classmates and found a general need for hygiene products for use after gym class and throughout the day. Ale and eight friends she recruited, organized and delivered 67 bags of hygiene products to Cristo Rey students. Ale’s efforts inspired her school’s administrators to create a school-wide community service program. Ale’s classmates said they were thrilled to have an outlet to help their community.
The resurgence of Kids Helping Kids programs in recent years has allowed a reimagining of the significance of youth leadership. As Genesis Bautista, who has spearheaded recent events, explains:
“Young people have a desire to lead and a deep knowledge of their communities’ needs.”
2022
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Someone Else’s Child Foundation collaborated with Rafael Hernandez K-8 School in Roxbury to conduct a food drive in service to 40 families. In assessing the cultural needs of the recipients, the Foundation team members spoke with family liaisons to gather food requests, and purchased the necessary items at the locally owned grocery store, Brother’s Supermarket. A goal of staff was to step back and let the participating students lead.
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Someone Else’s Child Foundation staff and youth members of Lynn’s YMCA supported teens experiencing homelessness through the distribution of winter clothing and hygiene products to 100 young people experiencing homelessness.
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In collaboration with staff and 20 youth leaders from Hyde Square Task Force, Someone Else’s Child Foundation staff facilitated the assembly of grocery bags filled with ingredients to prepare holiday meals traditional to the Latinx population. Enthusiastic staff helpers guided the youth in a well-structured and well-executed event in the service of about 80 families.
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In partnership with Someone Else’s Child Foundation staff and youth of Young Man with a Plan assembled 100 bags for young people with warm winter gear.
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Peer leaders from the Lynn branch of Girls Inc. collaborated with Someone Else’s Child Foundation staff to assemble food packages to be distributed amongst Girls Inc. families. The food we purchased from our local “Stop and Shop” fed 100 families.
The concept of Kids Helping Kids arose about 25 years ago, when Mike and Diane Christian started backpack and school supply drives in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
2020
2007-2019
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Someone Else’s Child Foundation sponsored a back-to-school event and book drive for the Children’s Hospital, fostering active participation of various school and youth groups.
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Someone Else’s Child Foundation held our first Kids Helping Kids back-to-school event at Marblehead High School. More than 30 kids donated their time to help assemble school supplies and backpacks to distribute to local shelters and group homes.
2006
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During the COVID-19 Pandemic Someone Else’s Child Foundation collaborated with friends, families and nonprofit partners of to assemble, deliver and distribute packaged meals to families in the Greater Boston Area.
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Someone Else’s Child Foundation was an ongoing partner to the Rafael Hernandez K-8 School in Roxbury collaborating on events and food distribution with students to families around the holidays.
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In collaboration with young people affiliated with Boston Explorers, Someone Else’s Child Foundation facilitated gatherings to distribute food to families in Boston.
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Someone Else’s Child Foundation collaborated with the Salem Food Bank, Girls Inc. of Lynn, and families in Salem on small community events to distribute food to families in the North Shore Area.
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In 2007, Someone Else’s Child collaborated with the Marblehead Department of Social Services and a school to identify 50 kids in need in the North Shore. Several classrooms participated, each taking on one child, donating and wrapping gifts and writing personal notes.