BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 5, 2017 31
Four-year-old Bay Ridge kid helps raise money
for children affected by Hurricane Harvey
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
A local Bay Ridge kid has held
fundraisers around the
neighborhood for Houston
kids affected by Hurricane Harvey
and he’s just four years old.
Bryan Rumfelt, a pre-kindergarten
student at Our Saviour's Lutheran
Preschool in Bay Ridge, was watching
television coverage with his grandmother
Donna Byrnes on Friday, September
1, and viewed the aftermath of
Hurricane Harvey, which destroyed
hundreds of homes, claimed several
lives, and resulted in extreme flooding.
"I felt bad for the children and how
all their toys were gone," he said. "I
wanted to bring them new ones."
"I was in shock," said Byrnes on her
grandson's reaction. "He was just
looking and questioning what was
happening. He asked, 'Where are their
toys? Can we bring them toys and put
them in their house?' The sadness on
his face for these children was really
sincere. He was truly upset for these
kids."
With the help of Byrnes and his
parents, Jen and Keith Rumfelt, Bryan
took action to help the children of
Texas.
He went to the Breezy Point Surf
Club and set up a stand selling various
snacks with all the money going
to Hurricane Harvey victims. Just in
one day, he raised $275.
"It felt really awesome," he said. "I
sold chips and other types of snacks."
"I was so impressed," added Byrnes.
"At Breezy, there is so much to do for
kids and he sat at the table instead of
playing."
The second fundraiser took place at
Bay Ridge Parkway and Fifth Avenue,
where he collected $170. He was also
stationed at 77th Street and Fourth
Avenue.
In each outing, there were charming
moments.
"One woman said I don't eat those
treats and I did a trick instead," Bryan
said, as he performed a juggling act.
Bryan Rumfelt has raised over $1,300 for children impacted by
Hurricane Harvey.
The woman ended up donating money.
Bryan's parents are extremely
impressed by his generosity at such a
young age.
"We are in awe that at such a young
age Bryan has been able to demonstrate
such compassion and empathy,"
said Jen. "Watching him raise money
for the children in Houston has been
inspiring and we are so proud of him.
He amazes us everyday. He's always
been 'with it' and shown compassion
for others. He loves his toys and
couldn't understand how these kids
wouldn't have toys to play with. He
has this way about him that he understands
when others are upset and he
tries to comfort them."
She was also amused by his determination
to get donations.
"One person said they didn't have
money and I said there's a bank right
here," said Bryan, followed by a laugh.
"We couldn't believe how much effort
he was putting into it," Jen added.
"Even when people said no, he'd come
up with something witty to say or do
Photo courtesy of Donna Byrnes
and get them to donate."
After the success of the local fundraisers,
Byrnes decided to started a
gofundme page.
"People were trying to find where
Bryan was selling and some were at
work or not in the area, so the page
gave all of those people the opportunity
to contribute to his cause," said
Jen. "We wanted to split the money
between two different charities that
were strictly doing something for the
kids so we chose Pajamas and Books
because bedtime is one of our favorite
and comforting times for kids, and that
charity is donating a book and a pair
of pajamas to each child. The other is
Save the Children because they were
buying toys and creating safe spaces
in shelters where they would play and
do activities with children."
So far, the page has raised $1,361 for
the two charities.
"I just wanted kids to have new toys,"
Bryan said.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/
Bryan-s-Fundraiser-for-Houston-kids.
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