How do you explain to your seven-year-old that there are people, who risked their lives for our freedom, that are now homeless and living on the streets? You don’t. Because you can’t. There is no explanation. There is no rationalization. But that doesn’t mean that nothing can be done. Andrea Blackstone, herself from a veteran family, had an honest discussion with her son, Tyler Stallings, about the unfortunate and sad situation that so many of our country’s veterans find themselves in. Tyler’s response? To help. To give. To provide. To honor. And from this was born the concept of “Hero Bags,” part of the work this kidprenuer does with his project, “Give Back to Veterans.” Tyler came up with the idea to fill bags with necessities for veterans that would include toiletries, clothes, snacks, shoes and more. But he didn’t stop there. He then partnered with local mattress manufacturers to have 250 mattresses donated to vets living at the Maryland Center for Veteran Education and Training. And don’t think this seven-year-old stopped at that. He (and mom) started a Go-Fund-Me (https://www.gofundme.com/TylerVeterans) which has raised just under $23,000 for veterans. So if you are ever wondering just what a seven-year-old can accomplish, Tyler shows us that even a young child can change people’s lives.
