Cool kids: Kailyn Steward helps homeless through school project

Kailyn Steward recognized a societal problem and decided to do something about it.

Steward, 11, is a fifth-grader at West Valley City School. A recent school project regarding the consequences of human choice and solutions had her thinking about Spokane’s homeless, and she chose their plight as her topic.

She did her research and visited Anna Ogden Hall and the Union Gospel Mission. “I learned a lot about how people end up homeless. I discovered that there are over 69 agencies in Spokane that form the Homeless Coalition,” she said.

She found that a variety of services are offered to the homeless, and she learned what she could do to help including, instead of giving money offer a food certificate, a homemade sack lunch or information.

Last month she made and, with the help of her parents, passed out sack lunches to area panhandlers. “I also included an information card from Union Gospel Mission with 50 cents taped to it so they could call for additional help.”

For her school presentation, she produced a power point and made informational posters that included statistics and photos. The project took her more than a month to plan and carry out. “It made me feel good passing out lunches. I also realized that I too, as a fifth-grader, could make a difference in someone’s life.”

Steward enjoys basketball, soccer, playing the guitar and hip-hop. She also enjoys the outdoors, camping, hiking, fishing and skiing, which she’s been doing for five years. “I like to race,” she said, “I’d like to be a Junior Olympic skier.” She may go into nursing or a profession that involves animals.

Whatever she chooses, it will most likely make a difference. “Follow your dreams and try new things,” she said, “And if you find a problem in the community, do something about it and make a difference.”