LA VERNE — Jeffrey Croysdill, 13, of La Verne has an open palm and warm heart.
He’s using both to raise money to help children and families victimized by the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake that claimed an estimated 250,000 lives and left hundreds of thousands homeless, orphaned and without vital services in Haiti.
“We cannot plant with closed fists. To sow we must open our hands,” said Jeffrey, quoting a reminder about human compassion Ramona Middle School teacher Mary Collins keeps posted in her English classroom.
The Ramona eighth-grader didn’t have to strain his brain to remember that quote.
His firm belief in compassionate caring inspire his responses to the tragedies and trauma less fortunate folks face.
On Saturday, Jeffrey will coordinate an 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. yard sale at La Verne United Methodist Church’s Scout Barn, 3205 D St., to raise money to help Haitian relief efforts of the American Red Cross. Items to be sold were donated by Scout parents, neighbors and friends.
“I was watching Fox 11 news reports with live images from Haiti,” said the boy who doesn’t believe in sitting on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to do something. “I saw there were not enough resources, food, medicine and things people need to survive.
“My parents say you have to help others when they’re in need and to be nice. My teachers talk about the Golden Rule and treating others like you want to be treated. I believe them. I also believe I need to do something for Haiti,” he simply stated.
Jeffrey spent last Sunday making yard sale posters with fellow Scout Anthony Vaniman and Anthony’s mother and younger brother, Roxanne and Trenton.
One showed a Haitian man forlornly looking at a piece of wood and tin roofing material, all that was left of his home. Another depicted an eye with a single teardrop falling from it.
A more detailed poster announced Boy Scout Troop 411 Helping Haiti and featured the Haitian flag in the lower left corner and the red cross in the lower right. A world globe, a separated earthquake fault line and a teardrop dominated another poster.
“I think when you have a good cause people will help,” Jeffrey optimistically predicted.
“The Monday after seeing that Fox News broadcast, I took a donation box to the Boy Scout Court of Honor ceremony and gave a quick speech about doing a yard sale or lemonade stand to raise money for Haitian earthquake victims.
“Within 20 minutes, we got $100. I was crying I was so happy,” he confessed. “The little brother of Brandon, one of the Scouts in Troop 411, went back to his Cub Scout pack and raised $85. It feels good to trigger something inspiring others.”
Being helpful is nothing new for Jeffrey, said his father Brian. He felt his son truly understands the life lessons he and his wife, Karen, stress for Jeffrey and his sister Jessica, 10.
“You’re never too young to make a difference,” Croysdill claimed. “Anyone at any time can make a difference. We want him to be an upstanding young man who helps others. My theory is you should help anybody who needs help and not expect anything in return.”
Feeling connected to and compassionate about people who are less fortunate broaden his horizons and make him a better citizen of the world, Croysdill continued.
A Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) student since fourth grade, Jeffrey’s grades haven’t suffered because of his tendency to get involved in charitable causes, Scout projects, Ramona’s accelerated math program or the championship AYSO Celtics team, his father said.
“We do whatever we can economically and otherwise to encourage him,” Croysdill added.
Jeffrey isn’t reluctant about adding his energy to other philanthropic projects.
He was among Troop 411 Scouts who helped Pomona church parishioners serve food to homeless people and employees at the Von’s Market in La Verne’s Target center raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. He never passes a charity collection box without dropping money inside it.
When La Verne neighbor Henr Marcorro mentioned having a lemonade stand to raise money for two Pomona families who lost their homes to fire in August 2009, Jeffrey stepped up with other neighborhood children to make it happen. Considering him trustworthy and honest, Marcorro picked Jeffrey to be banker for the sale.
“We raised $1,100 for the two families,” Jeffrey quietly said, smiling.
An anonymous donor, impressed with the “kid power” behind the lemonade stand, donated $700 of that total.
Jeffrey loves trains and traveling. He has visited Germany, England, Switzerland and Luxembourg, travelled throughout the United States and will soon participate in his third educational journey to historical landmarks in Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown.
He thinks kindness and cooperation build bridges of peace and friendship.
“When you’re not kind or helpful, major tensions develop between people. Tension causes wars,” he reasoned. “If you’re kind, you can prevent war.”