9-Year-Old Girl Collects 300 Blankets for the Homeless

DULUTH, Minn. — As winter weather approaches, a Duluth girl is organizing a blanket drive for the homeless with the help of her family.

“I was at my dance studio, and as we were leaving, I saw this person in a tank top and shorts, and it was like a really cold day,” said Georgie Campbell, a 9-year-old girl.

For Georgie, the exposure to people less fortunate than her opened her heart up in a big way.

“A few minutes later, we were all we were still driving, and I saw, like, tents, and I thought people were camping, but it’s just like, a homeless, like, place where, like, homeless people are,” said Campbell.

After speaking with her mom, Georgie decided to take action by creating a blanket drive. Her mom helped make a Facebook post sharing Georgie’s experience and her goal of collecting 100 blankets to be donated to those in need. The post included an Amazon wishlist allowing people who live further away to send blankets to Duluth.

“Her grandma shared it on Facebook to her friends, and then I shared it at work and on Facebook, and we’ve gotten donations from, I don’t even know how many people, and from all over the country,” said Dennierae Campbell, Georgie’s mother.

The post quickly gained traction, even reaching Sweden, and her goal of 100 blankets was surpassed within the first few weeks. Campbell trippled her goal, receiving 300 blankets and plans to deliver them to the Damiano Center, Tuesday, the 28th, which is also Gerogie’s 10th birthday.

“I think we were both a little bit overwhelmed with the generosity of everybody, and I think just overall proud of her for wanting to make a change herself and not just waiting for somebody else to do something,” said Dennierae.