Photo courtesy of Kids Give to Kids
Anaheim-resident Daniel Barrett is creating a way kids can give to kids in need.
Daniel Barrett (pictured above) remembers his rough childhood all too well.
Fortunately, he learned a few things from it and he insists it doesn’t have to be that way for every kid. While he’s not trying to change the world, he is trying to change one thing for kids: the power of giving.
His charity, Kids Give to Kids, is based on those life lessons as well as his time as a Toys for Tots volunteer. It is designed to empower kids with one of the few things they have control over in their young lives. Barrett says the ability to choose the toy they give, or for less fortunate kids, to choose the toy they receive can have lifelong positive effects on them.
“To choose is a powerful thing to do,” says Barrett, of Anaheim. “I didn’t get a chance to choose a toy when I was a kid. I want to change the dynamics of giving to kids and allow every kid to be a giver.”
Barrett describes what usually happens when a kid gives up a toy as something less than a charitable act.
“The [parents] are taking the toy and going to Goodwill. They’re just cleaning up their room,” he says. “When you go to take a toy from your child, you’re hurting them. Giving the child the choice changes the game.”
What Barrett hopes to do when he launches his app early next year is create a kind of free eBay for kids to give and receive toys all year long. In the meantime, his charity will be collecting toys at their second annual Christmas toy drive on Dec. 12 in Irvine in hopes of culling together 50,000 toys by the end of the year for less fortunate kids and raising awareness for the non-profit.
“It’s not easy to share, but it’s incredible to give,” he says.
The Kspire app will allow toys to be designated for giving by the kids themselves and made available to the first child who chooses it. Only less fortunate kids are allowed to receive toys.
“It stays there until another kid chooses that toy,” he says. “The kid that gives the toy goes to a participating restaurant, drops off the toy and earns a free kid’s meal. A notification goes to the parent of the kid who chose the toy and they come pick it up and the kid gets a free meal as well.”
The kids, whether they’re donating or receiving the toys, will also earn points.
“Imagine a 7-year-old earning a free haircut,” he says. “It’s teaching them responsibility, sharing and entrepreneurship.”
Barrett believes kids are naturally giving and only taught to be selfish. A view grown from his childhood in foster homes.
“I never learned to love and be compassionate,” he says. “I learned to survive. I built up walls and protected myself.”
It was only later in his adult life that he figured things out and found a purpose. He wrote a kids book and started his charity. Now, even he’s amazed by the results.
“It’s a community of complete strangers giving to each other,” he says. “With our program you’re helping, but you don’t know who you’re helping, so it’s based on love.”
Kids Give to Kids 2nd Annual Toy Drive
Dec. 12, 6-9 p.m. | Tech the Halls, Eureka Building
1621 Alton Pkwy., Irvine | kidsgivetokids.org
By Shawn Price
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