Sisters youth lights spark of compassion

In July, fourth-grader Colton Seymour lit a spark of compassion that spread beyond Sisters when he issued a heartfelt plea on behalf of multitudes of starving children in the Horn of Africa. To his surprise, not only did he raise over $600 for famine relief, he learned a great deal in the process.

Colton learned that, even at the tender age of nine, he had the power to do something about a distant humanitarian crisis. He learned to give media interviews. And he learned that he lives in a community that is quick and generous to respond.

Brought to tears last summer when he saw a photo of a starving Somalian boy in his parents' Wall Street Journal, Colton asked his parents, "What can we do to help?" He proceeded to donate his own life savings, eighty dollars, and took his cause before the other kids at Sisters Park & Recreation District.

His humanitarian mission made the local press (see The Nugget, July 26, 2011). Before Colton knew it he was on TV; his story got picked up by KTVZ Newschannel 21 in Bend. That led to a phone call from a USA Today reporter, asking for the details.

Donations from one penny to one hundred dollars came in.

"It was sometimes kids who saved up and put money in the jar and sometimes it was adults," says Colton.

One woman drove all the way from Prineville to deposit cash in Colton's jar at SPRD, after seeing Colton on the evening news.

"She said it made her cry," says Colton's mother, Tara Seymour.

Colton collected a total of $620, which he donated to Mercy Corps, specifically for famine relief in the Horn of Africa. He estimates this helped thousands of children receive life-saving food and vitamins.

Tara Seymour is grateful her son had such a powerful experience. "It started out as just this sweet little idea. And then for the community to respond like this, we just want to thank them."

She also thanks Bank of the Cascades for establishing a temporary account at no charge. And Colton adds a shout-out to two of his young buddies at SPRD, Simon and Oscar Rhett, for their help.

Colton, who just celebrated his 10th birthday by going rock-climbing, told The Nugget that his fund-raising experience "made me feel like I was stronger. It felt really good."