Category: 3B Ripples

North Star Elementary School 3B Brae's Brown Bags packing event

North Star Elementary spreading cheer

On By cmanneringIn 3B Ripples3 Comments

We recently wrote about North Star Elementary after visiting the school and sitting with students for a special reading night. We were impressed by their excitement about 3B Brae’s Brown Bags then, but they have kicked it up a notch and we are blown away.

The school’s STEM program had a special showcase this week. Students coded games and interactive applications inspired by 3B Brae’s Brown Bags. Amazing! We wish we could have been there to see the showcase in person! Next time!

The following day, students got together or a bag packing of 125 brown bags of healthy food for patrons of the Emmanuel Dining Room in Wilmington, Delaware. Not only did they create a wishlist of items to fill the bags, but they also colored the bags and made them extra cheerful with positive, hopeful messages!

Amanda from the North Star PTA reached out to share some photos. We are beyond grateful to all of you at North Star!

If you’re inspired by the work of 3B Brae’s Brown Bags and want to make a difference in your community, we’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re interested in organizing a bag-packing event at your school, inviting Braeden to speak at your organization, or exploring other ways to get involved, we’re here to help. Simply fill out our contact form on the website, and a member of our team will reach out to discuss how we can work together. Your support can help us expand our impact and bring hope to those in need. Don’t hesitate – to take the first step towards making a positive change today by contacting 3B Brae’s Brown Bags!

North Star Elementary “Bears that Care”

On By cmanneringIn 3B Outreach, 3B Ripples2 Comments

Last night, Braeden visited North Star Elementary School during their Smores Stories event. He was invited to be a special guest reader! Brae sat in front of a group of young students and read “Just One Pebble. One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger.” (See note.) Brae received a few great questions from students listening to the story including wanting to know what we pack in our bags and how much it costs. We always love to hear their thoughts about 3B and see their gears spinning about how they can get involved!

Braeden reading to a group of young students at North Star Elementary

The mascot for North Star Elementary is a polar bear and the school is embracing this fully with their upcoming service event, “Bears that Care.” At this event, in December, the students will be packing 125 of Brae’s Brown Bags to be delivered to the Emmanuel Dining Room. The dining room is a soup kitchen in Wilmington, Delaware that we hold near and dear to our hearts. The students will be decorating the bags with messages of hope along with their librarian.

To hype the kids up the school is also putting forth an initiative to be extra kind and caring the two weeks leading to the event. Any kids caught being kind or caring will get a “bear card” that can be put in a raffle basket and the winners will get prizes. We provided some 3B swag to the school to include as prizes for their students.

We absolutely love what North Star Elementary is doing. It’s so important to teach our kiddos about public service and compassion. The messages in the book are meant to encourage young people to think about how they can make a difference in the world around them. These are lessons that will benefit them for their whole life! Many thanks to Amanda Moseley with the PTA for reaching out to invite us to be a part of the programming!

A group of students at North Star Elementary in a photo with Braeden Mannering.

Quick Note: The book, Just One Pebble, was written by Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky and illustrated by Sara Casilda. We have been asked where the money for the book goes. 3B does not get any of the proceeds from the book. However, we feel that the story is an important one to share. It is written and illustrated in a way that provides inspiration to children and lets them know that they can be changemakers no matter their age. It has also recently won awards for social justice. We’re so proud of how far and wide the story has reached.

Giving to 3B

There are many ways to donate to 3B. You can start a fundraiser on Facebook, provide us with in-kind donations like handwarmers, fruit snacks, pretzels, etc. or donate via our PayPal Giving page.

We also have a 3B Brae’s Brown Bags online store where you can buy merch!

Helping during natural disasters

On By cmanneringIn 3B Outreach, 3B RipplesLeave a comment

Braeden and I have been talking a lot about how to help with the most recent disaster relief efforts happening in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

At least 190 people are known to have died as a result of the destruction left by the hurricane and we are absolutely devastated to know that so many tens of thousands more are still isolated due to all of the damage.

When disaster strikes, it is not just a moment of crisis; it becomes an opportunity for individuals and organizations to come together, transcending boundaries and differences. As seen in various relief efforts, such as those following Hurricane Irma, the outpouring of support—from monetary donations to volunteer services—demonstrates our shared humanity. Each act of kindness, no matter how small, contributes to rebuilding lives and restoring hope. Together, we can create a resilient community that not only survives but thrives, reminding us that in our darkest hours, we can find strength in unity and compassion.

Diverse group of people helping each other a water color illustration
image by Kane Lynch.

How can we help

As you know, Brae recently work with fourth graders in North Carolina on their leadership projects. He spoke to all of the fourth graders about his efforts with 3B Brae’s Brown Bags and encouraged them to think of their own ways to work in service. It takes all of us – children, adults, nonprofits, government entities, businesses, faith-based organizations, educational institutions and others – working together to help our communities when they are struggling.

Up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers will join the North Carolina National Guard in delivering supplies, food and water to isolated communities. People all around the country are looking for ways to help, including us. It makes us sad to know it takes a disaster some times to bring people together, but it makes us proud to see it happen.

Resources

Braeden Mannering reading Just One Pebble at Keene Elementary School.

Storytime with Brae

On By cmanneringIn 3B Outreach, 3B Ripples1 Comment

Before Christmas break, Brae had been invited to his old elementary school, Keene Elementary, to read the book at is all about him and 3B Brae’s Brown Bags.

It was such a cool experience. The story is really great for children ages 5 to 12, and it’s inspiring because Brae started his non-profit when he was 9-years-old. Some of the kids he read to ended up having really thoughtful questions and comments. One little kindergartener explained, “You blow my mind,” at the end of the reading. To which Brae humbly said, “Thanks, little dude.”

One child asked about the title of the book, “Just One Pebble.” Brae explained to the little girl that sometimes all it takes is one tiny pebble to make a ripple of change in the world. Other children were sharing how they wanted to help the homeless, too. Brae encouraged them to do so and said that was a great idea, but he also said they should only go out to help people if they bring their parents along. 🙂

Brae really enjoyed the opportunity to read the book to several different classrooms that afternoon. His sister was able to be his tour guide and bring him to each of the classrooms. We’re so grateful that Mrs. Taraboletti, the principal at Keene Elementary, was willing to make time to read this story.

By the end of the afternoon, there were children running up to Brae for hugs. I really think he made a big impact on a lot of future changemakers.

High Fives and Hugs to McVey Elementary School #3Bripples #the3bway

On By cmanneringIn 3B Ripples1 Comment

3B Ripple Student Chapters is definitely an amazing part of Brae’s Brown Bags.

We’re excited and incredibly proud to announce and share news about out newest chapter at McVey Elementary School in the Christina School District.

Not only did they pack bags of healthy snacks for children in need in their community, but they also added a special reading element to the mix.  They visited a neighborhood with bags AND books and read aloud to the children who participated. Amazing!

Ms. Kim Blevins, a teacher at McVey Elementary School shared a little bit about the experience and it made our hearts smile!

“The past two days have been soooo incredibly amazing. From the kids helping to pack the bags to yesterday’s Read and Feed night my heart is overwhelmed. The look on the children’s faces as they received the bags and the hugs from the mother’s giving the kids a small snack that they can’t afford was priceless.”

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To all of the students, teachers and staff involved with the new 3B Ripple at McVey we appreciate you so much! You are awesome! Thank you!

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

End of the school year, nonprofit advocacy and #WeAreYoungHeroes

On By BraedenIn 3B Outreach, 3B Ripples3 Comments

Hi everybody! I know my Mom has been doing a lot of the writing on the site these days. But I thought I would put up a few things real quick.

One is that I am now finished with the 7th grade at Gauger-Cobbs. I am very happy to be starting summer break!

Another thing is that we have had some really cool things happening. Like the Caravel Cares Club packed 100 bags on their last day of school as part of being a 3B Ripple Student Chapter which is really awesome. They were able to give the bags to a church who was able to use them. I’m really glad to know they plan on continuing to be an active chapter with our 3B Ripples program.

Me, my mom and Representative Longhurst

Last week I attended Nonprofit Advocacy Day at Legislative Hall with my Mom. Governor Carney talked for a little bit and then my friend Senator Bryan Townsend and also Representative Valerie Longhurst. Both of them said very nice things about me and 3B, but more importantly they talked about how important nonprofits are to the State of Delaware. Nonprofits are at the heart of many important social issues and can help to be the bridge the state needs to make sure people get the right services to help them. I thought that was good to hear and I am glad I was able to go. Especially since Senator Townsend then ended up scheduling a time for us to play minigolf, which we did over the weekend. I want a rematch, haha. No, it was a good game, VERY HOT THOUGH, and Senator Townsend won. But like he says, we had fun and we’re both winners!

So I am thankful to the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement for setting up the advocacy day and thankful to my Mom for letting me go even though it was on a school day. I think I learned a lot and I think it was a good experience.

So then on Saturday my Mom and my Gram went with be to Girard College in Philadelphia for the National Liberty Museum’s Young Hero Outreach Program Celebration. I was the keynote speaker for the event which was really cool, I liked being able to talk to everyone. But I also think it was great to meet all the kids who participated in the young heroes training program. They worked very hard on their projects and I got to see all the research they did and hear from them on their ideas.

 

Elbert-Palmer Elementary School created a Homeless Bill of Rights and that is a concept I think is very much needed and very important. I am very proud of them! My project and my story is in the young hero training curriculum. So the kids all learned about what I am doing. When they saw me at their event they seemed really happy which made me feel good. A lot of them wanted to take selfies with me and I have to admit that was kind of cool! I’m really grateful to the National Liberty Museum for staying in touch with me and for including me in this event. I had a great time!

We’re planning for the 4th Annual 3B Summer Celebration. I hope all of you reading this will be able to join us for our event. It is always a lot of fun and this year will be awesome!

Mom’s going to add in information about sponsorship to the end of this post. If you or your company wants to help sponsor the event I really hope  you’ll think about it.

Thank you!

–

There are three levels of sponsorship available, they each some with their own perks. You can download our sponsorship form here, please email christy@braesbrownbags.org if you have any questions! Sponsorship packets are DUE BY AUGUST 4, 2017! 

DOWNLOAD – 3B Brae Sponsorship-2017 Summer Celebration [pdf]

Public service, polar bears and music #LEAD360

On By BraedenIn 3B Outreach, 3B Ripples, Announcements3 Comments

The past few days have been so busy that I don’t know where to start so I’m just going to go in order of when it all happened.

So last week I found out that I was selected for the 2017 Christina School District Middle School Band. I play percussion. I’ll be playing the Timpani. So that’s really cool and my family is really proud of me and excited for me. A few of my friends also made it, like Milan, he plays trumpet.

brae-voteSo I found out that I am in the top 5 projects across the nation for the Jefferson Awards LEAD360 Challenge. The winning project gets activated nationwide which means we will be able to launch 3B Ripples across the country and help provide people in need everywhere with healthy food while also activating the service project in schools across the US. The winner is picked based on voting. You can vote on the LEAD360 Web Page and also on the Jefferson Awards Facebook page.

indyAnd then the Jefferson Awards Foundation has Students in Action projects over the weekend. And it was really cool because Central Indiana packed Brae’s Brown Bags! They even did an awesome #mannequinchallenge while packing and I’m definitely going to plan on doing that during our hunger conference in April. So even though I couldn’t be there they still included me on everything because they were tweeting to me and sharing the process. I was able to record a quick message for them, too. So I was able to let them know that I am grateful for their service.

braeseafordThen on Saturday in Seaford, Delaware, my Mom and I visited their Students in Action and I was able to talk to some of the students. They packed about 80 bags of healthy food which was then donated to Jim Martin at the ACE Peer Resource Center in Seaford.

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Please take time to watch a video about the ACE Peer Resource Center. Jim Martin has been alone, he has been there, he has been homeless, he knows what that feels like on a personal level. He talked to us to try and help us understand. When someone comes in off the street they are exhausted, they are alone, they are hungry and sometimes all the need is a warm place to sit, to get something to eat and put on a pair of new socks. He is a very good man and he is helping a lot of people. I’m proud of the Students in Action for their service and I’m happy the ACE Peer Resource Center received the bags.

c36o9okvyaauqv3Then on Sunday the 3B team went to Rehoboth Beach to do the Polar Bear Plunge! We raised over $1,000 for the Special Olympics! My stepdad took this picture with me, mom Mom, my brother Finn and my sister Amelia. Before we jumped into the 41 degree water. Well, me, my Mom and my Gram went in the water. I still can’t believe my Mom and my Gram went in the water. But they did! My Dad and Mom Mom and brother Michael and my Grandmom and Grandpop and Aunt Kristin were all there to watch us be crazy! The radio said over $900,000 was raised all together by the plungers yesterday!

So please vote for me in the LEAD360 Challenge! You can vote once per day it ends on Tuesday, February 14 at midnight.

Thank you in advance!

#Hello2017

On By cmanneringIn 3B Outreach, 3B Ripples1 Comment

hello2017While Braeden and I ended 2016 with the flu and pneumonia, we were able to begin 2017 feeling MUCH better and hopeful for a bright new year. Braeden tweeted on New Years saying, “This year let your light shine! Make the choice to believe that 2017 is going to be amazing.” I absolutely love that sentiment. Way to go, Brae!

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Finn, Amelia and Tom Parkins from Calvary Baptist

My other two kids, Finn and Amelia, were able to help me deliver 3B bags to Calvary Baptist Church on Christmas Eve which has become an annual Christmas tradition for us since we started 3B. We provided bags for all of the homeless guests who partook in their Christmas Eve festivities. Thanks to my Aunt Mares we were also able to provide hats, scarves and gloves.

While Brae was sick my sweet Finn really stepped up. At first he didn’t want to leave his Google Santa Tracker, but when I explained that tracking the houses Santa stops at is fun to do. but not everyone has a house. So for those people we get to be Santa! He put on his Santa hat immediately and was ready to go!

It feels so good to be able to play Santa every now and then.

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One of the photos of some fantastic kids at MOT Charter (other photos are on our Facebook page)

MOT Charter invited Braeden to speak to the 2nd and 3rd graders a few days before Christmas (when he was still healthy). We are absolutely amazed and humbled to report they packed 426 bags! They also donated a car load of books and healthy snacks for us to use in making additional bags.

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The Power Of One

When we initially walked into the school one of the first things we saw was a showcase that featured Braeden! Of course I had him stand near it so I could take a picture, but honestly, normally you see trophies in cases like this and to see 3B featured felt pretty incredible. The showcase was titled “The Power of One” and it inside were pictures of Brae’s last visit to MOT Charter as well as quotes printed out from Brae’s talk. It definitely helped both of us to feel even more inspired that day. And to see  all the great work MOT Charter has done in helping to provide healthy food to those in need in their community via Our Daily Bread and with help from the Jefferson Awards Foundation.

Less than a week prior to the MOT Charter visit we received word that our 3B Ripple at Caravel Academy packed 131 bags! We were able to use some of those bags on Christmas Eve for those in need!

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3B Ripple – Caravel Cares Club (3C)

The generosity and compassion I see in these young students overwhelms me with joy. I know it means a great deal to Braeden as well. When he is invited to speak at a school he is always very excited to hear that the kids will ask him after his talk. And as his Mom, I love being able to see him interact with youth and empower them to be involved in what he is doing, but also to dream big with their own ideas on how they can help their community.

So we hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays! We also wish you a new year filled with happiness, love and laughter. Be the light in the world, be the change!

– Christy, Brae’s Mom

Meeting UD resident advisors, and our younger student ripples, plus #givingtuesday

On By cmanneringIn 3B Outreach, 3B Ripples1 Comment

A couple weeks ago Braeden had an opportunity to meet several resident advisors from Residence Life and Housing at the University of Delaware. He was given the chance to talk with them about Brae’s Brown Bags and about how he thinks we can all really make big positive changes in the world if we work together. We had a bunch of technical glitches and my other two kids, Finn and Amelia, joined us for the outing which is not our typical program. However, I think the unusual moments made the evening all the more amazing.

This group of UD students were all incredibly kind people who treated all of us like we belonged. Which made it no surprise to hear Braeden tell them he hopes to go to the University of Delaware for college someday. We’ll see, as I know when he gets older he might start thinking about going somewhere not so close to home. Although as a Blue Hen alum myself of course I want him to go to UD.

The group packed 120 bags of healthy food for the Newark community. Many of the bags included new socks thanks to youth at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Odessa, Delaware who donated several bags of socks to 3B in late October.

Earlier in November Braeden also made a trip to The College School at the University of Delaware. He was able to talk with two sessions of kids who were a little bit younger than him, but he told them he started 3B when he was just 9 years old and they seemed pretty excited to hear that information. The kids asked a lot of great questions and wanted to know more about where Braeden has visited over the last few years. He let them know that aside from the Radio Disney Music Awards his other favorite visits have been at the White House.

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The College School kids are an official 3B Ripple. Last year they packed hundreds of bags for those in need in Newark and this year they plan to do more!

15138578_1273541539356243_8901357944699802637_oAnother one of our 3B Ripples with the Circle of Friends Daycare packed 70 bags of healthy food prior to their Thanksgiving break. This is our youngest group which just goes to show that you can make a difference even in diapers! Thank you so much to “Small Hands, Big Hearts” your ripple makes us very proud!

One more thing to let you know is that today is Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a day to take a a break from the searching out the best deals for holiday shopping to support causes that means the most to you. With your support Brae’s Brown Bags has been able to grow a great deal since 2013 and we are so grateful! [ Donate to 3B ]

We have been able to visit dozens of schools and attend various forums and conferences so Braeden can share his ideas about nutritional security and what can be done to fix it. We have also been able to provide over 8,000 bags of healthy food to those in need in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Louisiana. We even were able to send 20 cases of clean water to Flint, Michigan during their water crisis.

With your help we will be able to continue supporting other hunger relief programs and organizations as well as do our best to educate youth about what they can do to make a difference. Thank you! #GivingTuesday

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https://www.facebook.com/donate/10154041557221570/?fundraiser_source=feed

Have a blessed day filled with light and laughter!

  • Christy, Brae’s Mom

 

Summer time high fives

On By BraedenIn 3B Outreach, 3B Ripples1 Comment

13640783_860560587421752_4553159800088006036_oIt is hard to believe that Summer break from school is already halfway over. Let’s not think about that right now though. It’s still Summer time and we have a lot of fun things happening.

I have been to schools and a summer camp as well as my Gram and Pop and friend Laura. We have been giving out bags as part of the #SummerMeals program. For this I just really want youth to know how important it is for them to eat healthy, too. So they come to schools for lunch or dinner and they get a healthy meal, but taking a bag with them gives them a chance to reach for something healthy to eat at home, too.

13640922_1152379174805814_2165661344635176608_oAlso the Christiana Fire Company invited me over for hamburgers and hot dogs off the grill. They showed me around their station and I even learned that it is haunted! Maybe not, but it’s a cool story and it has been around for a long time. I am sure the walls could tell many stories. Chief Perillo and Captain Semonelle were very nice to me and my family. 13603277_1152379521472446_2500457531476419471_oThe fire company participated in a WaWa Hoagie Challenge recently and they raised money for a charity. Captain Semonelle decided he wanted to donate the money to Brae’s Brown Bags!!! That is so exciting! Also I decided I want to be a volunteer firefighter when I am older. I think I would really like to do that. They said I can start helping out after I turn 13 years old!

The Middletown Jazzercise Summer Camp and the Circle of Friends Daycare Ripple “Small Hands, Big Hearts” both helped pack and deliver LOTS of bags over the past couple of weeks. It is so much fun when I get to work with other kids. They are really good helpers and I like how excited they are to know they will be giving to people in need13690944_1158009850909413_6107354723130820813_o. 13615299_1153580788018986_1781115289723400908_nI couldn’t do all I do with Brae’s Brown Bags without the help of my family, friends and NEW friends I have been making a long the way. There were even girls who baked breads and cookies to raise money to buy the healthy snacks at the Jazzercise place. Isn’t that so nice!?

Also we are still planning for our 3rd Annual 3B Summer Celebration. We’ve been getting sponsors but would still benefit from some raffle items. If anyone knows any local companies who can provide gift baskets or gift certificates it would be very helpful and appreciated. Check out our 3B Summer Celebration page for more information.

Thank you to WSTW, Bear-Glasgow YMCA, UDairy Creamery, The Crop Foundation, Del-One Federal Credit Union, Dover Federal Credit Union, Gerri and Bill Irish, Transportation Communications Union IAM Unit #86, Terri, Kristin and Todd Stephan and Greg and Margie Mannering for their donations and sponsorships thus far.