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One morning in 1995, 12-year-old Craig Kielburger of Ontario, Canada, sat down to read the comics. Instead, an article on the front page of the Toronto Star that detailed the murder of a young Pakistani boy for speaking out against child labor caught his attention. Horrified that a 12-year-old had worked 12 hours a day, six days a week making carpets, and then was killed for protesting such inhumane conditions, Kielburger decided to take action. He founded an organization to free children from abuse and exploitation – Kids Can Free the Children.
Last Spring, seven students at Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley learned of the impressive work of Free the Children and decided they wanted to help. They founded a chapter of Free the Children called Woodside Priory Youth in Action.
The Priory chapter has reached nearly half of its 2003-04 goal to raise $3,000 for a primary school through traditional fund-raising events, including a Chevy’s night, letter-writing, an awareness week in October and hot chocolate sales. But more than $1,500 remains to be raised.
The Priory group has arranged a spring-cleaning fund-raiser in conjunction with Auction Drop, a local seller of goods on eBay.
Items brought to Auction Drop Stores in Menlo Park, Los Altos, San Carlos or San Jose, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., March 29 through April 2, that meet the standard eBay requirements will be auctioned for the benefit of Free the Children. A tax receipt will be mailed verifying the amount of the donation.
The Los Altos Store is located at 200 Main St. For more information, logon to www.auctiondrop.com/contact.html.
Spring-cleaning castoffs can be left with the receptionist in Founder’s Hall at the Priory, 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley.
