If you feel like you’ve lost hope in people, don’t worry—eight-year-old Cayden Taipalus will make you believe again.
One day at his school, Challenger Elementary in Howell, Michigan, Cayden saw a friend get only a sandwich instead of a hot meal because there wasn’t enough money in his lunch account. That really upset Cayden, and he wanted to help.
When he got home, he told his mom, Amber Melke-Peters, how sad it made him feel. She agreed that they should do something about it. Together, they started a fundraising webpage called “Pay It Forward: No Kid Goes Hungry” to help kids who can’t afford lunch.
Cayden asked his friends, family, and neighbors to help by donating money to pay off his friend’s lunch debt—and also to help other kids who couldn’t afford lunch.
But his efforts didn’t stop there. As more people heard his story, they were inspired too. Cayden even started a recycling campaign to raise money on his own. He spoke to the school’s lunch staff and asked that the money go to students who needed help the most.
So far, Cayden has raised over $41,000, which has helped many kids get hot meals at school. His biggest hope is that no student ever has to go without a warm lunch.
His mom told ABC News, “I’m so proud of my son. He’s only 8, and it’s amazing that he understands this. He has such a kind heart.”
What started as a sad feeling in Cayden’s stomach turned into a project that helps lots of children eat better at school.
Many people supported and praised Cayden’s work. One person said, “We donated and think what you’re doing is amazing. I hope someone has nominated you for the Make a Difference program. You’ve really made a difference.”
They also added, “It’s sad that in a rich country, some kids still go hungry. For some, school lunch is their only meal. What Cayden is doing helps kids stay fed and keep their dignity. It really does take a village.”
Cayden’s efforts to help pay off his friend’s lunch debt show that anything is possible when you care enough and don’t give up.
Thanks to kind-hearted kids like him, the world becomes a little better.
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