The day started early on Giving Tuesday in 2023. At 8 a.m., a Nickelodeon crew arrived at our home to feature kids who were leading their own holiday giving efforts. They filmed CJ and Kollin, along with the host, as they built a blanket fort together in our loft — hands busy, fully engaged — talking with them about why they give and modeling how kids can lead through service. Afterward, Kollin climbed into our red wagon, and CJ pulled him through our neighborhood, collecting blankets and socks from neighbors to donate to foster youth during the holidays. The 12-hour day continued at Eagle Landing Christian Academy (ELCA), where CJ and Kollin hosted their very first Making Change Blanket Workshop.

We didn’t know how many students would show up.

As we set up, kids poured into the room — and then more followed. Soon, the space buzzed with energy. More than 100 students gathered, ready to make blankets for others. What stood out wasn’t the cameras or the attention. Instead, kids naturally stepped into leadership when given the chance. It was a proud moment to see my boys, especially CJ, teach their teammates and peers how to make blankets organically — something we had previously done quietly at home.

Blankies 4 My Buddies began in 2013 when CJ was five. After losing our baby girl in pregnancy loss, Karsen Angelica, he discovered that giving offered a way forward. Collecting and donating blankets became a way to process grief while continuing to show up for others. What began as comfort slowly became purpose — and with each blanket donated, CJ learned that even the hardest moments could be met with action. From the beginning, the work belonged to the kids who led it.

When Kollin was born in 2016, he grew up alongside the mission. He rode in a wagon filled with blankets while CJ delivered them, watching and learning along the way. Leadership was not taught to him — he absorbed it by participating in the work. Over time, he joined CJ as a teammate and then emerged as a leader himself, creating his own projects as early as 4 years old, including a sensory toy drive for toddlers during the pandemic.

Today, both boys are student-athletes and globally recognized for their roles as Giving Tuesday Spark leaders, and they continue to serve. CJ, a member of the Class of 2026, will begin college and play on the football team at Ottawa University in Kansas, while Kollin will enter fifth grade this fall and continue to play football with the North Henry Tigers.

While students are encouraged to complete at least five hours of service each semester, what stands out is how many choose to keep going long after those hours are met. They return to projects, bring friends with them, and look for new ways to help — not because they have to, but because they want to.

This desire to serve has shaped what Blankies 4 My Buddies has become in Henry County.

The Giving Tuesday workshop sparked a shift. What began as a single event grew into something lasting. After the room had emptied and the work was done, the results were clear: almost 100 blankets had been made — a powerful reminder of what can happen when kids lead together. That same night, CJ and Kollin were surprised with a Nickelodeon Blimp Award and slimed — a fun moment that followed a day rooted in service and community.

Students kept returning, even after finishing their service hours, and revisited projects year after year. Kollin’s football teammates joined, blending teamwork with service. Parents now reach out, wanting their children involved. 

One of the organization’s signature initiatives is the Giving Bowl, a youth football tournament that CJ created at age 10 to address food insecurity after noticing that some of his classmates didn’t eat when they weren’t at school. The Giving Bowl brings the community together during the holiday season through a grocery and toy giveaway for families. Teams and attendees donate blankets, warm gear, or food, reinforcing the idea that collective giving can meet real, immediate needs. In the summer, the Back-to-School Kickoff extends that impact by combining a school-supply drive with a food and supplies giveaway to help families prepare for the year ahead.

Young people across Henry County have taken part in service projects supporting children, foster youth, seniors, shelters, and families. One example occurred when Kollin, then in third grade at Luella Elementary, received a Roots & Shoots grant. He led a bottle-cap collection that gathered more than 2,000 caps — enough for two Buddy Benches. Funding allowed for one, but the experience showed students that small actions can add up to something lasting. That bench found a home at A Friend’s House. 

We have also been intentional about creating ways for younger students to connect with older ones. Each year, Blankies 4 My Buddies hosts one or two service events with students from the Atlanta University Center, including Morehouse and Spelman. These gatherings unite college students with grade-schoolers — primarily middle- and high-schoolers — reinforcing the idea that service can remain part of life at every stage.

As CJ prepares for college, he plans to continue his work, with the goal of not leaving it behind — but of expanding it, carrying forward initiatives he created, like the Giving Bowl, while staying rooted at home.

While CJ and Kollin have received national recognition, including opportunities to speak alongside nonprofit leaders and fellow youth changemakers, our main focus remains on our community. This is where leadership is practiced, where kids discover their voices, and where service becomes something shared rather than assigned.

What I’ve witnessed isn’t just participation; it’s ownership. When kids are trusted to lead, they decide what matters and bring others with them. In Henry County, this leadership continues to grow — one project and one young changemaker at a time. That’s the goal, and it’s the legacy we’re building together.

To get involved, visit www.blankies4mybuddies.org.

By Kristen Wright Matthews