Five-year-old Zane and his classmates raised more than $1,000 for disaster relief in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami.

PARK CITY, Utah – When 5-year-old Zane heard about the devastation in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami, he knew he wanted to do something to help.

He had heard how Japanese families lost everything in the tsunami and sought refuge in the few buildings that were not destroyed, mainly schools.

“All of their possessions had been swept away,” explained Bill Horan, president of Operation Blessing. “All they have is what they have with them on the floor of the gymnasium.”

So Horan’s grandson, Zane, had an idea—to raise money to help the children in Japan. The idea took hold and soon every class at Soaring Wings Montessori School in Park City, Utah, were working together on a bake sale to benefit Japan.

“It was inspiring to watch such small children jump into action to help others less fortunate than them around the globe,” said Zane’s mother, Brooke.

The children, ranging in age from nine down to three years old, raised over $1,000. They sent the funds, along with hand written notes of encouragement, to Operation Blessing in Japan.

The bicycles brought smiles to children living in a shelter in Shiogama, Japan.

Operation Blessing relief workers, who had been serving a shelter in the coastal city of Shiogama, traveled inland and used the funds to purchase bicycles for the children in the shelter. From the oldest to the youngest, the children were all smiles when they saw their new bikes, each with a special letter attached from a child in the United States.

The children immediately tried out their new bikes in the parking lot of the school, some learning to ride for the very first time. For children who had lost so much, the simple joy of a bicycle meant so much.

“Not just the kids were excited,” Horan said, “the parents were absolutely blown away by this act of love, act of caring, and act of generosity from children in America.”

Back at home Zane, too, was excited to see how even a small action like baking cookies could reach so far.

“Seeing how his tiny hands reached across all possible barriers and touched another child, bringing them hope, joy, and inspiration was a lesson that could not be learned in any other way,” Brooke said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

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