In a similar fashion as the typical lemonade stand that kids set up in neighborhoods to earn a few extra dollars and try their hands at entrepreneurship, a young Minot resident and her friend tried their entrepreneurial skills by setting up a door-to-door business this past summer.
Eight-year-old Breana Morlang and her friend Maylie sold their handmade arts and crafts items around their neighborhood. The two friends drew pictures and created sculpture-type items from "weird-looking sticks and weird-looking rocks," Morlang described, then sold them door-to- door, offering to donate the money to charity. A short time later, Morlang and her mother, Cyndi, baked cookies for the coffee hour at their church and also made phone calls to some local businesses that donated money. Relatives of the Morlangs also donated money, so it became a family activity, Cyndi said. In total, almost $350 was raised through their efforts. Morlang and her mother then decided to buy some toys with the profit and donate the rest of the money to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.
The money was set aside until this fall, Cyndi noted, because they didn't know what charity they wanted to donate the money to. After some thinking and researching a few organizations, though, they decided on the Domestic Violence Crisis Center because it's an important cause. Also, they wanted to donate to an organization where children are involved.
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Breana Morlang, in front holding the sign, along with her sister, pose with the toys that were bought using the profit from selling arts and crafts items door-to-door in the neighborhood. Morlang and her friend sold their handcrafted items this past summer and donated the money to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.
Morlang and her friend Maylie sold their drawings and sculptures for 25, 50 or 75 cents in the neighborhood, she explained, but some people gave $5 or $10. Cyndi said they raised close to $60 from the drawings and sculptures.
The idea for selling crafty items door-to-door was Morlang's friend Maylie's, who "just came up with it," Morlang said. Originally, they were going to give blankets to the hospital, Cyndi noted, but they researched it and it didn't work out the way they wanted it to, so they kept the money until they decided on the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.
Morlang plans to continue doing good things for other people, possibly making more arts and crafts items at a later time. However, she also volunteers with other organizations. She has been involved and volunteered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention walk, helped with sandbagging in the neighborhood during the 2011 flood, helped clean the zoo, helped Bob Gross with his bicycle giveaway, and has volunteered with her church, Cyndi explained. "She started with helping with the walk and is just a generous and giving person."
Everything about this project was enjoyable for Morlang. "I liked all of it," she said with a smile and excitement. "But I (also) liked picking out the toys that were donated." The Domestic Violence Crisis Center prefers monetary donations because they don't have a wish list, Cyndi noted, so that's why she and Morlang gave both toys and money.
It's important to volunteer because you're helping others and giving to someone in need, Morlang said. "Breana. will continue to volunteer," added Cyndi. "It's kind of our family's nature."