Voices of the Children
I wish to nominate my daughter Jackie Sandmeyer who is a 15 year old currently attending Capital High School. She has selflessly donated uncountable hours toward her passion for the homeless. Even the articles attached can not fully show how much time and effort she has sacrificed for her charity. She feels deeply for what she does, and I’m proud of her for coming so far with her charity work. To know that she helps so many keeps her going with each project. I ask that you please consider rewarding her so greatly for all she has done for others.
Fourth-grader sparks a holiday gift-giving
campaign
Mayor Coles says he hopes actions inspire others
By: Craig Quintana, Idaho Statesman
At St. Joseph’s Catholic Grade School, Jackie Sandmeyer is taught to give back to her community.
On Wednesday, Boise Mayor Brent Coles proclaimed her an excellentstudent for the girl’s donation of 125 used winter coats to the homeless.
The fourth-grader said she decided to gather coats while reading to younger children attending day-care at Community House, an area shelter, this fall.
“I saw they didn’t have coats and so I decided to collect them,” she said.
Jackie, 9, put out collection boxes and signs, including a pair at City Hall in late September. The coats were distributed last month.
But that’s only the beginning of the girl’s giving.
Jackie asked Coles for permission to put up a mitten tree at City Hall during the holiday season to collect winter gloves and hats. Without hesitation, Coles agreed, and then donated the first hat, a knit cover emblazoned with the Boise 2000 millennium celebration logo.
The girl’s poker face which was impassive through much of her meeting with the mayor, exploded in teeth and dimples once she donned the hat.
Any gear collected on the tree will be wrapped and given as gifts for the homeless, she said.
Coles said he hoped Jackie’s generosity would inspire others, particularly youths.
It’s what you can do when you have a good idea, and you ask,” he said. “Now, what are the teen-agers going to say when there’s a forth-grader doing all this?”
Jackie said she heard Coles’ calls for area youth to help “make a difference,” which motivated her to act.
Ronda Sandmeyer, Jackie’s mother, said she’s proud of her daughter, who is taking school required public service to a more meaningful level.
“My daughter wanted to do something different,” Sandmeyer said.
Young and old folks walk for hungry children
By: Chereen Langrill, Idaho Statesman
A walk to help low income families drew people of all ages and attracted spectators Saturday morning in Boise.
The Walk for Hungry Children was organized by 13 year old Jackie Sandmeyer to raise money, food and baby care items. Nearly 100 people attended the event.
Participants walked from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise on Federal Way to the Capitol steps. People pledged baby bottles, baby food, cash and peanut butter and jelly to those who walked, Sandmeyer said.
Some brought cases of diapers. Others donated checks for $100.
“We were really impressed that people we had no clue about were walking there with us,” Sandmeyer said.
Saint Joseph’s teacher John Pattis said the back of a large pickup truck was filled with food by the end of the event.
Organizers expected to know exactly how much food was collected today when the Idaho Foodbank does a final tally.
“I had people pressing pledge forms into my hands as I walked,” Pattis said.
One woman told organizers she was walking at Saturday’s event because she was once homeless, he said.
Sandemeyer said she plans to hold a similar event every year because of Saturday’s success.