Young Girls With Big Hearts Help Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County
At just 11 years old, Maggie Layman of Darlington, set out to collect summer supplies from her friends at school and church to donate to kids in need this summer. Having seen her community run similar drives during the holiday season, Maggie grew concerned that those families, and especially kids, would still be in need of help the rest of the year as well. She considered that if a family couldn’t afford new clothes, that those kids would have to wear their winter clothes all year round, and how uncomfortable that must be. So Maggie, with the help of her 9 year old sister, Josie, and her mom, Vicky, designed an Angel Giving “Palm” Tree to collect nearly $1,000 worth of summer clothes, sports equipment, gardening tools, and art supplies for kids in need at Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County.
“It is just amazing to me that at 11 years old, Maggie exhibits the kind of empathy, kindness, and leadership, that is rare among most adults, let alone children,” says Ashira Quabili, Marketing & Philanthropy Director at Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County. “Maggie’s effort will touch the lives of hundreds of kids this summer, and she should be immensely proud of this accomplishment, as I’m sure her mother must be.”
Maggie and her family plan to do this again next year, but hope to start earlier, so the kids they help will be ready for summer fun as soon as school lets out. As a token of their thanks, Maggie was presented with a Lizzie Bear, a teddy bear that represents the kids she’s helped, and a free pass for her family to go to the Aberdeen Family Swim Center, which is also operated by the Harford County Boys & Girls Clubs. What’s next for Maggie and her family? They have just moved to Jarrettsville, and are looking forward to starting a new school in the fall and getting to know the North Harford community.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County:
Celebrating more than 25 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County was established in 1990 by a group of concerned citizens in the Aberdeen area. The organization now serves over 6,000 youth per year and operates Clubs in Aberdeen, Bel Air, Edgewood, and Havre de Grace as well as summer programs at Camp Hidden Valley and the Aberdeen Family Swim Center. Our mission is to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Club is open to all youth ages 6 to 18 and provides positive youth development programs in five core areas: Character and Leadership Development; Health & Life Skills; Education & Career Development; the Arts; and Sports, Fitness and Recreation. For more information visit www.bgcharfordco.org or call 410-272-0010.
