America Together: Uplifting images of Americans pulling together during coronavirus pandemic
Every day and in every community, the coronavirus pandemic is bringing out the best in Americans. Take a look at some inspiring images of Americans pulling together in a time of crisis.
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Chelsea Phaire is just finishing fifth grade this year but she could graduate in kindness: she's already helped thousands of her peers find joy and comfort in art.
It all started in August of last year, when the 10-year-old girl from Danbury, Conn., asked for art supplies for her birthday so she could build kits for kids affected by school shootings. Now, since the coronavirus pandemic struck, she has been sending them to children in homeless facilities and in foster care to try and cheer them up.
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"It means a lot because of the coronavirus," Chelsea told Fox News over the phone. "It's just really nice to know kids are helping kids during this really stressful time. It really makes me feel happy."
Chelsea Phaire, the 10-year-old founder of Chelsea's Charity, has sent out 2,500 art kits to kids through the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy Chelsea's Charity)
Chelsea, who said she was bullied in school, turned to art when she lost her swim coach to gun violence a few years ago.
She founded Chelsea's Charity last year to help others and, as a first step, she set up an Amazon wishlist. When someone donates enough supplies, she explained, she fills the art kits with markers, crayons, colored pencils, sketch pads and paper, gel pens and coloring books. Sometimes she adds something fun, like colored pipe cleaners.
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Before the pandemic, Chelsea and her mom traveled to shelters and schools from Oklahoma to New Jersey, dropping off the art kits and, in some cases, teaching kids how to use art to boost their mental health and express themselves.
Chelsea Phaire poses with art kits before sending them to kids in homeless shelters and foster care. (Courtesy Chelsea's Charity)
Since stay-at-home orders, she has mailed more than 1,500 kits to at least 12 states. The latest batch of 75 kits went to Philadelphia schools.
She also has started recording video messages and sending them online, since she can't physically be there to hand them.
In a recent video to a class at a Hartford school, she told students: "Art is important to me because no matter how bad I'm feeling...my art supplies are always there for me...so no matter what happens, know that art is a start!"
Chelsea's mom, Candace Phaire, a former classroom teacher and now an early childhood professor, said, "Kids listen to kids more than they would adults."
Chelsea's dad does the heavy lifting and her mom helps coordinate.
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"It's become a family project. We make assembly lines," Phaire said. "My husband and I are both service-oriented, we serve in our community and our church, so to see that in our children ... makes me really proud."
Chelsea Phaire's goal is to bring art to every kid on the planet. (Courtesy Chelsea's Charity)
"Ah, thanks, Mommy," Chelsea responded.
At 10, she has big dreams.
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"I want to visit and give kits to every single state and then move onto other countries as well," she said. "There's kids that need good art out there, and I just want to find every single one of them out there. Who knows maybe world peace will happen. It doesn't hurt to try."
They're already planning something special with 11 different sites for her 11th birthday in August, but just need to pick exactly which ones.
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