Cayden & Kaden
Pair of 9-year-olds work to collect items for local families in need
Two local families paired up this past weekend to deliver joy in the form of presents to Family Promise and the Santa Clarita Valley homeless community it serves.
Meadows Elementary secondgrader Cayden Tyler announced in October he’d continue last year’s quest to provide new or used socks, gloves, beanies and blankets to the local homeless population.
After securing a partnership with the local restaurant Nealie’s Skillet, which promised to offer 15 percent off to those who contribute to the cause, Cayden’s Winter Warehouse — as Tyler refers to the donation effort — was able to catch the attention of a local family who wanted to assist.
Nikki Wehmeir and her son — who’s also named Kaden — heard about the local 9-year-old’s community project and started a Facebook fundraiser of their own to assist Tyler.
“She thought maybe she’d get about $500, (but) she raised over $2,000,” said Kathy Gorlick, Tyler’s grandmother who assists with the donation effort. “It was so cool because both (kids) are the same age and have a lot of commonalities.”
On Sunday, the pair of families
met at Walmart, where they would purchase a number of items for Family Promise.
“We filled four carts to the brim,” Gorlick said, mentioning that it was a lot harder to spend $2,000 at WalMart than one would think.
Tyler and Gorlick then headed to Family Promise on Monday to drop off the gifts.
It’d take awhile for Cayden to unload all of the baby items, warm clothing, hats and toys that were purchased, but Gorlick said he never stopped smiling, “because he knows he’s helping people who want to get back to their feet.”
Gorlick added that Cayden is still accepting donations and hopes to collect more items that could be beneficial to local families and residents who are in need.
“We can go pick it up or we can meet (the person donating) somewhere,” Gorlick said. “We just want to get as many people involved because this is a chance to do something special for other families in the community who can really use the kind-hearted gesture.”
Items can be donated into December and they will make their way to the needy with the help of Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley, according to Gorlick. Those wishing to donate to Cayden’s Winter Warehouse should contact her directly at kathygorlick@gmail.com.