Residents of Minneapolis are trying to get back on their feet after days of uncertainty. Following the week of George Floyd's death were protests and riots, so 9-year-old, Kamryn Johnson and her friends thought it would be nice to do something.
Kamryn created and sold friendship bracelets outside their home in Minnesota. She and her friends have raised more than 50,000 US Dollars. All this money and the rest that they will gather are for residents of Minneapolis. Specifically, they want to help those who were affected by the riots.
The 9-year-old girl and her friends' goal
Selling the bracelets was an idea of Kamryn's friend, Tanner. They thought of this when they learned about the protests against police brutality.
In an interview with Good Morning America, Kamryn shared their little group's vision. "I just hope the money that we earn that we can build up some black businesses and provide the food and water that they need," Kamryn said.
They were not only able to sell bracelets but gather donations as well. Neighbors and family members bought bracelets and donated for the little girls' cause.
The 9-year-old girl's father, Ron, also had friends who poured in their donations. These donors include Chad Greenway, Anthony Adams, and the University of Minnesota President, Joan Gabel.
The kids were able to raise more than 50,000 US Dollars. They are now planning to donate this to the residents of Minneapolis, who were affected by the coronavirus pandemic. They also intend to share these with those who had their businesses ruined by the looting and riots.
More than the friendship bracelets and the donations for the residents of Minneapolis
While the 9-year-old girl and her friends are selling their friendship bracelets, their parents also learn something from it.
According to Kamryn's parents, Ron and Shani, the small friendship bracelet stand of the kids has also brought their neighborhood together. Their non-Black neighbors have been coming over to engage in conversations. These conversations are meaningful to all of them. That is because they talk about issues that are happening all over the world, like race.
Ron said, "Now to see everybody kind of come together; understanding differences don't mean we can't be friends; it just means we're different."
Shani also shared an instance when a man came to their stand to express his sorrow over Floyd's death. The man drove for more than thirty minutes to buy the kids' friendship bracelet. At some point, the man also cried to them and was apologizing.
Shani felt that this meant people are already willing to do differently for the world to change.
No one in the family expected that the kids' simple idea would make such an impact on their community.
Ron and Shani are very proud of what their 9-year-old girl and her friends are accomplishing.
