Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Dillon. Dillon distributed backpacks and school supplies in conjunctions with our community’s “Meals of Love” program

1. What inspired to start this project?

I love giving back to my community and the school I attend hooked me up with the Meals of Love program who needed help with providing kids with school supplies.

2. Why is your work important to you?

We need to ensure that the leaders of the future get what they need today so they can succeed in school. Having basic things like a backpack, pencils and folders goes a long way to helping kids succeed at school.

3. How did the money from the microgrant help with your project?

We were able to buy the school supplies with the grant money so that we could help more families. In the past, we had to rely on donations of supplies/money from the church and the community.

4. What message of giving back do you have for others?

Giving back is fun! I loved helping the kids pick what color backpack they wanted. This one kid was so excited that we had purple ones. They all thanked us and walked out looking really excited for school rather than nervous that they wouldn’t have supplies or would have to use their older siblings beat up backpack. They loved being able to pick out the color of pencils they wanted and pencil sharpeners. I didn’t realize how much school supplies could cost a large family. And even worse, if they had to rely on their teachers to help them. I felt really good at the end of the day knowing we had helped parents worry less and kids be excited for school.