A little help
Haylea Maceiko may be a soft-spoken 10-year-old, but her actions certainly speak volumes.
On Christmas Eve, Haylea accompanied her grandmother, Pam Jones, a volunteer with WeCare Street Outreach, to Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church to help serve dinner to the homeless. It was there that Haylea struck up a conversation with Norman Threatt, one of the homeless men profiled in April in the Observer-Reporter.
She was hooked.
Since then, Haylea has conducted several fundraisers for the homeless, including a penny collection that netted more than $700, and a tic-tac-toe game that raised $300. For 50 cents, donors could play tic-tac-toe. In return, they received a colorful bookmark that Haylea made from duct tape.
“My brother and best friend, I relied on them. I always know they can help me,” Haylea said. “All the kids at church helped collect.”
Her best friend is Abby Hollandsworth of Canonsburg, and her younger brother is Chase.
Haylea, daughter of Derek and Donna Maceiko of Washington, is a fifth-grader at Central Christian Academy in Houston. She has participated in volunteer projects there and at church, but this is the first time she has organized fundraisers on her own.
In addition, Haylea has been a faithful volunteer with WeCare. She’s missed just a few outreaches because of softball games, but she has left basketball practice to help the homeless. In recognition of her “outstanding volunteer efforts and contributions” in her community, Haylea was recognized with a Kohl’s Cares Scholarship.
When she first pitched her pennies fundraiser at church, she froze at the microphone and her mom had to rescue her. But that’s not the case anymore.
“You can’t get her off the microphone now when she gives her updates,” her mother joked.
And it’s no secret Haylea’s grandmother has been her inspiration.
Jones, who has been volunteering with WeCare since October, said, “The first time I went, Haylea heard the excitement in my voice.”
Likewise, Haylea has deeply touched those she is trying to help.
Booji Brunson, a homeless man with seven children, was so taken by Haylea’s endearing personality that he donated pennies one night during the WeCare outreach at the church. He then returned to the church on a Sunday with a small plastic bag full of pennies. He said he keeps an eye out for pennies as he walks the streets so he can give them to Haylea.
Paul Nemenz, a homeless veteran who shared his story in April, wrote Haylea a poem. Dated Aug. 5, 2013, it reads:
To the brightest star on my all-star team
Catch that falling star
And hold on to it tight
Dream dreams and make them big dreams
Life is what dreams are made of
And dreams really do come true
I pray for you that one day
You will soar with the eagles
That’s where you belong.
Nemenz signed it, “With love and pride. To my friend Haylea.”
All of the money Haylea has raised has been turned over to the church, with the stipulation, Donna Maceiko said, that it benefit the homeless. Some of the money has been used to purchase medications for WeCare, and Haylea would like to begin purchasing sleeping bags with more of the money.
“I like raising money and buying stuff for the people,” Haylea said.