A 12-year-old who sold more than $56,000 in popcorn through his Boy Scouts troop spent more than 20% of those earnings buying presents for children in foster care in his region of Minnesota, delivering one of the Christmas season’s most heartwarming stories.
Jonathan Werner’s act of kindness became possible after he emerged as the top Boy Scouts popcorn seller in Minnesota and one of the top three in the US.
The national popcorn sale held by the organization that aims to teach youngsters responsibility and self-reliance mainly through outdoor activities usually unfolds in the fall. Since he was six, during the sale, Werner has gone door to door offering bags of salted caramel popcorn, chocolate pretzels and other similar treats to people who frequently tell him “no”, a word that he says represents one step closer to a “yes”.
One year he raised $46,194 in 2021. In the following year, that number swelled to $56,396.
Werner could have used his share of the money on a new bicycle, camping gear, video games or whatever else the hearts of 12-year-old Boy Scouts desire in his community of Cambridge, which is populated by fewer than 10,000.
But instead, he and his mom spent $11,300 during a multi-day shopping spree at Kohl’s, Walmart, Fleet Farm and Amazon buying 600 gifts for local children in foster care.
He wrapped up the toys, cosmetics and clothing that he bought for children he had never met at a party in early December where his fellow Boy Scouts – equipped with tape, scissors and wrapping paper – helped him wrap the gifts.
The bounty is hefty enough to provide a gift for every foster child in four counties, as well as for some in a fifth. Gifts were also set aside for children living in a domestic violence shelter.
Werner’s mother, Serena Kolk, said that Werner read over every one of those children’s written wishlists before going shopping.
“He reads what every kid writes and tries to find something he thinks they are specifically going to like,” Kolk added.
Kolk described how there were some selling days where she would try to give her son permission to go home early. His reply: “Nope – I have to stay; I have to stay.”
Werner said that his father’s humble upbringing in foster care motivated him to stay out on the trail even when he was tired.
“It didn’t really sound like [he] had much of a Christmas” growing up, Werner said of his father, Steve Kolk, who helped the popcorn-selling dynamo sort out his gifts by county at the wrapping party.
Werner also said that he likes to think that the money he raised and toys he bought were a chance to make “many … people happy during the holidays”.
“And that just makes me happy,” Werner said.
While Werner described being happy, he isn’t satisfied. He said he eventually wants to buy presents for every foster child in Minnesota.
By Ramon Antonio Vargas in the Guardian.com