Having a lemonade stand is fun. In fact, Fincher Nelson, age 7, and her sister Emory, enjoyed hosting their own last Thanksgiving. However, it just whet their appetite. They wanted to do something else, and they wanted to make a difference in the process by raising money for people in need.

That’s when a unique idea came to them: they could sell paper airplanes and artwork in their neighborhood. As they discussed the idea with friends, they joined forces with neighbors and good friends the Caudles, who brought their origami skills to the table.

In early 2022, the kids bundled up and gathered creations on a table in the front yard – brightly colored airplanes, neatly folded paper cranes and more.

By the end, the group had sold enough paper creations to make a nearly $200 donation, and they chose The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope in Charlotte, North Carolina to benefit.

When The Salvation Army thinks of “helpers,” families like the Nelson and Caudle families spring to mind, and that is true of kids like Fincher, Emory, Aaron, Aria and Andrew.