A kindly ten-year-old boy has made it his mission to bring 100,000 meals to people in need by Thanksgiving.
Orion Jean has started the ‘Race to 100k Meals’ with the goal of providing people facing food insecurity with brown paper bags decorated with positive messages and filled with nutritious meals.
Though monetary donations are accepted, it is preferred that people donate a 16 ounce water bottle, two tangerines or an apple in a Ziploc bag, a granola bar and an apple sauce pouch or tuna packed into a brown paper bag with a kind message written on it.
Orion, from Fort Worth, Texas, USA, said: “Looking around and seeing so many people that don’t have opportunities, meals and resources, and these people are people that look like me and are my age. I know can help,”
He includes uplifting and upbeat messages on donated bags including “you are loved”, “you are talented”, “you are unique,” and “love always wins”.
Orion says the messages are equally as important because of the significance of kindness.
He added: “I know that kindness is a very universal message.”
And Orion is no stranger to being kind.
Earlier this year he launched a ‘Race to 500 Toys’ drive, to collect and donate toys for children at the Children’s Health Hospital in Dallas.
The goal was 500 toys, with over 600 being collected.
Orion has partnered with TangoTab, an organization that helps provide meals through partner organizations, to help collect and distribute the food to those in need across the country.
The project was officially launched on October 10 and at time of writing over 19,000 meals had been collected.
Orion’s mother Kherri said: “We’ve received a tremendous outpouring from the community.
“People we don’t know have sent us messages on social media and we’ve had tons of donations pour in.”
Donations are open until Thanksgiving on November 26, with drop off events being held every Saturday in the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas.
People not in the area are encouraged to set up donation sites in their own cities through TangoTab or through Orion’s website.
To find out more information, visit www.racetokindness.com.