Alexandria — Benson Leavitt, 8 years old, raised $260 and used the money to buy and donate toys to the Center for Alexandria’s Children.
Benson, who attends James K. Polk Elementary School, raised the money by selling homemade chocolate chip cookies in the surrounding community. He decided on doing a service project to help prepare for his baptism.
“Benson originally had the idea to sell lemonade,” said his mother Brittany Leavitt, “but decided on chocolate chip cookies to reach more foot traffic.”
Benson, who was adamant on “helping kids who lived in Alexandria,” then went to the Center for Alexandria’s Children online wish list and picked out toys for the children. The Center for Alexandria’s Children is a resource for prevention, investigation, and treatment of child abuse, providing weekly “Learn & PlayGroups” for children up to age five and their caregivers.
Laura Ruth, Learn & PlayGroup coordinator at the center, said, “These toys give our Learn & PlayGroup families concrete ways to engage together in creative play while encouraging learning and socialization. They are invaluable tools to connect children and parents that are integral to our curriculum.”
The center serves more than 400 local children a year. For more information or to donate, visit http://centerforalexandriaschildren.org.