How to donate
To donate to the Interfaith Hospitality Network, call (513) 934-5250
LEBANON — More than 18 months ago, Brenden DeMarzo, 8, saw a special report on homeless children on an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” DeMarzo was so horrified and touched by what he saw that he demanded a chance to help.
“We were in the process of moving, and I thought he’d forget about it,” recalled mom Amy DeMarzo. “But he kept at us.”
For the second consecutive year, Brenden, now a third-grader at Donovan Elementary School, has collected close to $800 for the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County, a local nonprofit organization that aids families on the brink of homelessness.
This year, two of Brenden’s siblings, Molly, 6, a first-grader at Bowman Elementary, and Aidan, 4, a preschooler at the Warren County Career Center, assisted their brother with his mission of aid. Youngest brother Josh, 2, worked in a supervisory capacity.
“Kids helping kids — that’s what it’s all about,” said IFN executive director Linda Rabolt.
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Brenden, Molly, Aidan and parents Amy and David arrived at IFN, loaded with a variety of soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and other personal care items for the shelter to distribute to the families under its care.
“Not everyone needs shelter,” Rabolt said. “A lot of families just need assistance with making ends meet, such as care supplies like this, or clothing or furniture.”
Brenden solicited aid from friends and family through letters and telephone calls. Aidan’s class banded together to raise money specifically for shampoo and conditioner for the shelter.
The DeMarzos also met with United Way representative Michele Abrams, who said she wanted to use Brenden as a recruiter for other corporations.
“They are just amazing,” Abrams said. “All three really stepped up when they saw something that concerned them.”
“We couldn’t be more proud of them,” Amy DeMarzo said. “Collecting money to help has become an annual Thanksgiving family tradition for us now.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.
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