Holmdel 8-Year-Old Raises $600+ For Food Pantry, Animal Rescue
HOLMDEL, NJ – Rising third-grader William Kupchin has always expressed an interest in helping those around him. While his longtime dream of setting up a lemonade stand for charity was dashed by the coronavirus pandemic, the young philanthropist thought of a more creative take on raising money for his favorite organizations.
The Holmdel resident used materials from a bracelet-making kit to set up a stand at the end of his driveway and sell handmade bracelets. The profits of the stand were ultimately split between two causes Kupchin is particularly passionate about: one lunch program for hungry locals and a nearby animal rescue. In the end, roughly $340 went to each cause.
Kupchin’s mother Lezlee notified friends, family and neighbors on social media to help with the fundraising effort earlier this month. Nearly 100 bracelets were sold to dozens of customers, garnering over $680 in profits (each bracelet sold for $3 apiece, but many generous customers decided to donate more).
“We had so many customers, I couldn’t even count,” Kupchin told Patch. “I always felt bad for the people that didn’t have anything, the animals that had been hurt or injured, it was always about the charities.”
The grand total was ultimately donated to two of Kupchin’s favorite charities: BRIDGES at the Shore, a weekly lunch program for those in need, and Popcorn Park Zoo to support rescued animals.
“It was a great learning tool,” said Lezlee of the charity drive. “It helps him see what others don’t have and what we have so much to give.”
Kupchin first discovered BRIDGES at the Shore after the local nonprofit paid a visit to Village School. It was stories of those like Kathy Logan, a coordinator at BRIDGES, who has made and delivered hundreds of lunches to hungry Jersey Shore residents from her home, that inspired the young boy.
“I thought he was going to bring me $20, whatever. He brought me $340,” Logan told Patch. “This young man is an incredible young boy.”
The coordinator said that Kupchin’s donations will fund at least 300 meals for hungry New Jersey residents. During the coronavirus pandemic, when an influx of individuals are experiencing economic hardship and food insecurity, Logan says that Kupchin’s effort cannot be understated.
“Some of the people that would come to get their food allotment at the Keyport Food Pantry, we weren’t seeing them, and we didn’t understand why,” said Logan. “A lot of them were seniors. They wouldn’t come out. Therefore, they weren’t getting the food that they needed. That’s why this once-a-week lunch, we’ve seen that they are so eternally grateful to know that at least, every Friday, they are going to get at least one meal.”
BRIDGES at the Shore welcomes food donations from residents. A lunch consists of a meat and cheese sandwich without condiments, a bottle of water and a snack. Younger children are welcome to decorate brown bags for lunches to be delivered in. Lunches can be delivered to 8 Stagecoach Dr. in Holmdel between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Fridays.
“It feels really good to finally accomplish something that I’ve been wanting to do my whole life,” said Kupchin. “Now I’ve done it, and it’s just crazy to feel that I’ve done something super well.”
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This article originally appeared on the Holmdel-Hazlet Patch
