Walton student leads effort to celebrate birthdays of at-risk youth
Sep. 7—Sixteen-year-old Walton student Maria Raquel Thomas has a lot going on her junior year of high school. In addition to her studies and social life, she's also a cosmetic brand owner and the National Youth Ambassador for StandUp for Kids, a local nonprofit that focuses on combatting youth homelessness.
Recently, Thomas, her friends and family came together to work on a project called Birthday in a Bag, an initiative that provides birthday gifts and cards for at-risk youth participating in the StandUp for Kids mentoring program and for kids on the street.
"Everyone deserves to have something extra special on their birthday and many of our kids don't have home support. What's most important about the idea is not how much it cost... but the feeling it conveys. We are excited to have Maria Raquel and her family and friends joining in on the project," Executive Director Kelly Fields, the brainchild behind the Birthday in a Bag initiative, said in a statement.
Thomas and her friends worked on putting a total of 20 giftbags and personalized cards together over the Labor Day weekend. The gifts included hair trinkets, body creams and candy.
"Our goal is to give them a gift to let them know that we as teens are thinking about them and we are here to help. Every teen deserves a chance in life," Thomas said.
Thomas is the first National Youth Ambassador for StandUp for Kids, a title she claimed at 14 years old, according to her mother, Raquel Riley Thomas.
"I think is positive for the young ladies and the community to see these young girls take time out of their weekend and look to give to someone who is less fortunate," Raquel Riley said. "They were so happy about doing it, putting items together."
In the Thomas household, giving back to the community is a family event, Maria Raquel said. Raquel Riley, a veteran, is on the board of advisors for Operation Renewed Hope, a nonprofit that benefits homeless veterans, she said.
"That is our biggest philosophy in our family," Raquel Riley said. "Get involved. Be a voice for people who don't have a voice themselves. There is always someone who we can help."
After being inspired by her mother's philanthropy, Maria Raquel researched nonprofits in her community before stumbling upon StandUp for Kids. Today, Maria Raquel has even chosen to incorporate philanthropy in her cosmetic company, Maria Raquel Thomas Cosmetics, by given back a portion of all proceeds to StandUp for Kids.
Thomas hopes with more help from the community, her friends and possibly even her Walton classmates, she'll be able to continue to grow the Birthday in a Bag initiative and combat youth homelessness.
"I love that I was able to get my family members and friends to do it," she said.
To learn more about StandUp for Kids, logon to www.standupforkids.org.
