As the coronavirus only spreads more and more throughout the world, all we hear is terrible stories and things to become scared about. Somewhere in the mix of all the bad, there are some good stories too. A first-grade student from Gaithersburg, Md., used all of his saved-up money to help people in need in this desperate time. His acts of love are his way of overcoming fear.
7-year-old, Cavanaugh Bell, saved up $600 from three Christmases and two birthdays, which he spent on purchasing and packaging 65 ‘COVID-19 care-packs’ as well as 31 hot meals from Buca Di Beppo, a local restaurant. He then served the packages to senior citizens in need, and, as a bonus, he helped the local business impacted by the shut down after Governor Larry Hogan closed restaurants on March 16.
Bell also has some supporters, which have given him donations on his non-profit called “Cool and Dope.” After the 7-year-old went shopping, he took a video showing all of the stuff he bought for the seniors. “What’s up, guys! I’m at Target. Thank you for your donations, and look at all the stuff we got,” Bell said in the video he recorded for his supporters. He had several shopping carts filled with bottles of bleach and food.
One of the supporters responded to the video: “Oh, thank you, sweetie!”
On March 19, he also fed 90 students in need. Bell has previously cared for other students’ well-being. When he first started “Cool and Dope,” his mission was to “eradicate all bullying and youth suicide through political and social action by his 18th birthday on November 20, 2030.” Well, it’s still his mission, but he is taking a coronavirus detour along with the rest of the world.
When Bell was only 5 years old, he was bullied to the point of having suicidal thoughts, and this led him to become a philanthropist and anti-bullying activist. His mother encouraged him to take his experience and transform it into a movement to spread love and positivity.
Bell is only 7, but he has accomplished so much. After an 8-year-old named Gabriel Taye committed suicide, because of bullying in 2017, Bell got the city of Gaithersburg to dedicate February 21 as Bullying Awareness Day in honor of Taye. His county-designated October as Bullying Prevention Month. He also gave a TEDx Youth Talk on bullying. This October, Bell hopes to go to Washington, D.C., to lead the Anti-Bullying Rally.
