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BELDING — While most fifth-graders keep themselves busy with school, friends and family, one Belding girl is putting herself out there while helping others and doing it with a pageant title in hand.
Emma Scheid stands with the hygiene pantry across from Woodview Elementary School in Belding. — Submitted photo
Emma Scheid, 11, is hoping to make a difference for those who need a little extra help.
“She likes doing all these things because she wants to put a smile on faces,” said Emma’s mom, Jessica. “She doesn’t want people to be scared or embarrassed about needing help.”
Emma set up a hygiene pantry across from Woodview Elementary School. The pantry holds basic necessities for people to come grab if they are in need. Jessica said the pantry has already been emptied from so many people grabbing items. It is currently a plastic tote, but there are plans to make a permanent cabinet.
Jessica also said that if people would like to donate to the pantry they are more than welcome to leave items at the pantry or contact her to meet for drop off.
The hygiene pantry is just one of Emma’s Helping Hands. She also collects new stuffed animals for children at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and blankets and stuffed animals for local ambulances to give to children who emergency responders encounter. Emma also wants to collect socks and blankets among other necessities for Ionia County Relief After Violence Encounter or RAVE.
“She wants people to know that she cares, they aren’t alone and she just wants to help,” Jessica said.
When asked why she started helping people, Jessica said Emma kept hearing about different situations that made her sad and started asking her mom and dad how she could help out and what small things she could do.
“Being kind and helping out our community is the right thing to do,” Emma chimed in.
For Mother’s Day, Emma took flowers to Mission Point in Belding. She was able to hand deliver them to residents to make their Mother’s Day more enjoyable.
Not only is Emma helping the community, she’s doing it in a titled position. She is the reigning Miss Heart of Michigan Ultimate USA Preteen. Her next goal is to become National Miss Ultimate USA Preteen. The pageant will take place later this year, but she could use some help to get her there. One of her reasons for going to the pageant is to network with others and be able to expand her platform and help organizations and groups that she is passionate about, but on a bigger scale.
To help Emma pave the way to Nationals or to help with one of her hands contact her mother, Jessica Droste Scheid, on Facebook or follow Emma on Instagram at @emma_g_scheid.
