By Nanah Kiambati, Volunteer Writer, Northwest Region

It started in a jeep, on an ordinary ride home from school. Sixth grader Harrison Burgess sat in the car with his dad, listening to news reports about the devastating wildfires ravaging lives and homes across Los Angeles. His heart sank. But unlike most moments that pass in the bustle of daily life, this one stayed with him.

"I told my dad I wanted to do something to help," Harrison recalls. "People had lost everything. I couldn't just sit with that."

That spark — born of empathy and a powerful memory — soon grew into a ripple of compassion that swept through his school and community. Years earlier, Harrison's father had lost his childhood home to a house fire. Harrison remembered hearing how the Red Cross had stepped in when everything was gone.

"That story made it real for me," Harrison said. "I wanted to help people in the same situation my dad had been in."

What came next wasn't prompted by a teacher or a school project. It wasn't an assignment. It was simply a young boy listening to his heart—and choosing to act. He approached his principal at Fairhaven Middle School, Mr. Steve Ruthford, and together they created a plan to raise funds for the Red Cross.

Harrison faced more than just logistics—he faced his own fears. "I have stage fright," he admitted. "But I stood in front of my classmates and talked about the fundraiser anyway. My teachers were there for support, and that helped."

With posters, morning announcements, and a donation jar in the office, the campaign took off. Slowly, coins and bills poured in—each one a testament to the generosity of students, teachers, and families who believed in the cause.

"I was really surprised by how much we raised," Harrison said. "Kids donated their own money instead of spending it on themselves. That made me really happy."

But perhaps the most meaningful part of the experience for Harrison was the sense of unity.

"I wasn't the only one who helped," he emphasized. "My parents, friends, teachers—so many people made this happen. It takes a community to do big things. Both my parents were proud I was helping others on my own. I think my dad felt especially moved since I was helping people who'd gone through what he had."

The funds were presented to the Northwest Washington Chapter of the American Red Cross. Executive Director Alexander Newman, just returned from the fire-stricken region, welcomed Harrison, listened to his story, and honored him with a certificate and a Red Cross pin—small tokens for a very big heart.

"That moment? It felt amazing," Harrison said. "I was proud—not just of myself, but of all of us. I even got a big certificate! It felt good knowing the FMS community had done something meaningful."

When asked what being a humanitarian means to him, Harrison doesn't hesitate: "It means helping people without being told to or expecting something in return. I don't like seeing people suffer. I want to keep helping."

And help he will. This experience wasn't a one-time act of kindness—it planted a seed in a young leader, shaping how he sees the world and his place in it.

"I don't really know my role in the world yet," Harrison shared. "But this helps me figure it out. I know I want to have a positive impact."

To the families who may one day benefit from the funds he helped raise, Harrison would simply say: "I'm glad we could help you in a tough time."

In a world often overwhelmed by disaster and despair, Harrison's story reminds us that hope doesn't always arrive in grand gestures. It often begins with a whisper of compassion, a child's question, or a single act of kindness.

Like a pebble dropped into still water, one small act can create ripples far beyond what we ever see.

To anyone who wonders if they're too young, too busy, or too unsure to make a difference, Harrison offers this wisdom: "You're never too young to have a good impact on the world—as long as you believe in yourself."

If you can, please help.
Help by volunteering. Help by giving what you can. Help by believing, like Harrison, that no one is ever too small to start a wave of hope.