Addie Zawaski Provided_web
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Addie’s summer project benefits District 153 kids

 

Addie Zawaski is showing how a 10-year-old can make a difference.

The Churchill School student found a way to help her neighbors and her fellow students this summer. She’s now gearing up for fall. 

Addie Zawaski tended gardens this summer and donated her profits to District 153. (Provided photo)
Addie Zawaski tended gardens this summer and donated her profits to District 153. (Provided photo)

Addie agreed to water a garden while her neighbor was away visiting her daughter. Addie had done the chore in 2019 for the woman and said she’d be happy to do it again. 

But she didn’t stop there. She let others know she’d help them, too.

“I said to myself, I should start a plant watering business. I love gardening, I love planting anything and I love spring things,” Addie said.

“I made a Google form and I had people email me about what they wanted me to do. So I had them fill out a form with their addresses, directions on where the hoses are, any special care, any special time for sprinkling day or night, emergency contacts,” she explained.

Her parents, Hope and Jay Zawaski, accompanied their daughter on her rounds to a half dozen customers, helping with the heavy hoses. 

“I had one customer where I had to drag their hose, they had three separate gardens,” she said. Once everything was in place, Addie would direct her parent to turn the water on.

But most of the work Addie did herself. Despite the effort and heavy lifting, 

Addie said her summer project was “really fun. I like making people happy.”

She charged her customers a nominal fee. She got a few tips. In the end, Addie collected $85, but she decided not to keep the money. She wanted to share with others in need.  

Churchill School Principal Sara Schnoor accepts a donation from Addie Zawaski for school supplies. (Provided photo)
Churchill School Principal Sara Schnoor accepts a donation from Addie Zawaski for school supplies. (Provided photo)

Country singer Dolly Parton is one of her favorites, so Addie thought about following Parton’s example and donating her cash to a COVID-19 research project like Parton had done. Addie also really enjoys reading, so she thought about donating money for books.

In the end, she donated the $85 to Churchill School “to help families and kids in my district.” 

Principal Sara Schnoor said Churchill has set time aside to have students talk about fairness, leadership and kindness. Addie’s project and her donation are perfect examples of those traits.

In fall, Addie will be putting her hands in the dirt. Again, her efforts will benefit Homewood District 153.

The PTA is sponsoring a bulb flower sale and Addie is willing to plant the bulbs that community members purchase.

“I’m going to plant tulip bulbs, so they can be happy flowers in the spring,” she said. Her rates are $5 for bulb planting and $10 for yard raking. Customers need to supply the yard waste bags, shovels and rakes. Her mom set a Homewood perimeter.

This time her donation will go to It Could Be Your Kid, a program fighting bullying and racism through literacy.

Bulbs for the PTA fall flower sale can be ordered online. Orders are being accepted through Oct. 4.

To schedule a time for Addie to plant bulbs, contact her at [email protected]

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