News

Sixth-Grader Holds Birthday Fundraiser

08/21/08

When Carson Hach turned 11, he didn't ask for a brand-new bike or a fancy baseball glove.

Instead, Carson, a resident of Anderson Township and rising sixth-grader at Summit Country Day School in Hyde Park, asked his friends and family to donate to the City Gospel Mission, a homeless shelter and community outreach facility located in Over-the-Rhine.

Carson first got involved with the City Gospel Mission through his father, Wayne Hach, and their church, Crossroads Church in Oakley.

Wayne leads a church group that serves dinner at the Mission on the fourth Friday of every month. Feeling that the spirit of charity is an essential part of his son's upbringing, he began bringing Carson along to help out.

Carson responsibilities at the Mission include greeting guests, setting and clearing tables and helping to prepare the food - pouring syrup on the ice cream sundaes is a favorite task.

The idea for the birthday donation came from Wayne, who was inspired by some of Carson's Summit classmates who had made similar contributions for their birthdays.

He praises Summit's curriculum for being "charity-minded," citing such school activities as letter-writing campaigns and sponsoring inner-city students as setting an important example for his son.

So in lieu of brightly wrapped packages decked out with ribbons and bows, Carson's school and neighborhood friends arrived at Kingpin Lanes with donations in hand.

The total came to more than $160, and Carson immediately forked it over to the City Gospel Mission, where it will be used to support the programs that are important to Carson and his dad.

This recent act of charity is only one of many ways in which Carson is involved in his community.

He is a carrier for the Forest Hills Journal, delivering to about 50 customers on a route in his own Anderson subdivision. According to his dad, he is proud to be earning his own pocket money.

His is also an accomplished dirt biker and clarinet player, and his Little League baseball team just won the championships in their division.