Georgia Magazine - January 2024 - 42

Hometown HEROES
By Amber Lanier Nagle
Jayden Daniel:
remembering
foster children
during Easter
Jayden Daniel was a 2023 Washington Youth
Tour delegate who represented Tri-County
Electric Membership Corp. in Gray. Read
more about the Youth Tour in this issue.
J
ayden Daniel of Eatonton navigates life like a juggler. He is
dually enrolled at Gatewood School in Eatonton, where he
also takes courses through Gordon State College; participates
in student athletics and in myriad community-service
projects; spends time with family and friends; and obtained his
rotary private pilot license to fly helicopters.
There doesn't seem to be one free minute in the high
school senior's busy schedule, yet he somehow finds the time to
lead a large-scale community project he initiated in 2020, when
he was an eighth grader.
" I came across a story on the Never Too Late Foster Home
Facebook page about an 18-year-old in foster care who had
never experienced a birthday celebration, " Daniel says. " I was
shocked to learn that some children in 'the system' miss out on
normal childhood experiences like birthdays, holidays and
vacations. I wanted to do something about that. "
Remembering Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas
Child-a ministry that provides boxes full of toys, school
supplies and personal-care items to children all over the
world-Daniel launched a program that gives Easter baskets to
the often-overlooked youths in foster care.
" After meeting with officials at the Putnam County Division
of Family and Children Services, I set a goal to deliver 25 to 50
baskets to youths in Putnam and Jasper counties, " he says. " My
family and I posted about my project on our personal Facebook
pages and asked for help. A few days later, all commitments had
42 Georgia Magazine January 2024
been met, so I expanded my efforts to include 75 additional
baskets earmarked for children in Baldwin County. "
Beautiful, bountiful baskets-sorted by age and gender-
poured in, containing candy, balls, puzzles, stuffed animals,
toiletries, socks, jewelry, books and school supplies. Daniel
delivered them and started thinking about the next year. He
launched an online management system for basket sponsorships
and expanded his program to three more surrounding counties.
" We call it the Lake Area Easter Basket Project, also known
as Baskets of Hope, " he says. " We find community members,
church groups and clubs willing to make donations and baskets,
we collect them and then we deliver them to where they need
to go. "
Since 2020, his program has grown to serve 12 counties and
has distributed more than 1,600 baskets, bringing a little joy into
the lives of children living in difficult circumstances. And he's
always thinking of new ways to improve or expand his program.
" Helping people in need is always on my mind, " he says.
" My ultimate goal is to make a positive impact in the lives of
others. I hope my project has done that. I think it has. "
Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer living in
Adairsville.
Want to help?
Follow on Facebook at bit.ly/fblakeproj. Use the Message button on
the page to reach out to Daniel and his team.
SHANNON DANIEL
http://bit.ly/fblakeproj
Georgia Magazine - January 2024

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