Claira
Why I give
Why I Give- Claira
Veterans are the backbone of this country, and we wouldn’t be here without them. I wanted to raise money and my appreciation. My grandpa and other family members have been in the service, and hearing their brave stories and wanting veterans to be taken care of really inspired me to want to do something.
– Claira
Fifteen-year-old Claira painted and sold rocks to raise money for Semper Fi & America’s Fund. We asked her a few questions about how and why she chose to support our mission with her fundraising efforts.
1. Why rocks? How many did you paint? And how long did it take you to paint them?
“I thought rocks were a simple thing that anyone could decorate their yard, driveway or home with to give some happiness, color, and spread some love. I probably painted somewhere around 50 rocks, perhaps more. They sold out quickly! I had to paint 5-10 a day, which was quite time consuming, but it was totally worth it and fun!”
2. How did your neighbors, friends and community react to your fundraiser?
“My family, neighbors and anyone else who bought them thought it was super cool and neat; they were really proud which felt super great. :)”
3. Were there any service members or veterans who stopped by your booth? What was their reaction to your fundraiser?
“We did have some veterans stop by! One that came by was very touched and thought what I did was really cool, which felt awesome since that was one of my goals! Unfortunately, I didn’t meet everyone that came by, as it was more of a self-serve idea. The concept was simply you donate money to The Fund, and in return you get a fun rock of your choice! I let people have the freedom to give whatever amount they wanted to. I received donations anywhere from a few dollars to even a crisp $100 bill!”
4. What would you want people to know about The Fund?
“I want people to know that it’s easy to donate and show our gratitude to veterans because we would not be here without them. Just donating a few dollars helps more than you know, and YOU can make a difference, it’s so easy. Maybe some people will notice, maybe they won’t, but you are doing the right thing, and God always sees that.
Lastly, whenever you are out and about, say thank you for your service, or just thank you to any veteran you might see (you can spot them if they are wearing their service hat.) It is such a small act of kindness but really can make their day. They sacrificed so much for us, so let’s take care of them by showing our thanks, appreciation, and gratitude.”
